Different Seasons Create Different Injury Risks
When you live in a place like Chicago, you are truly able to enjoy all four seasons. Our famous blustery and snowy winters, hot summers, and pleasant springs and falls provide Chicagoans and tourists ample opportunities to enjoy the weather they like most. It also exposes people to a wide variety of accident risks that change with the seasons.
Accidental injuries happen every day, no matter the season. These incidents can involve vehicles, defective consumer products, bicycles, or slippery floors, and at any time of the year. All, however, share one thing in common: When someone else’s negligence causes them, victims are typically entitled to compensation for their injuries.
The types of accidents that are most associated with specific seasons follow below. Of course, this information is meant to be general, and accidents of any type can occur at any time of year. For more information, or to discuss a particular accident with a Chicago personal injury attorney, call Abels & Annes, P.C., today at (312) 924-7575 or send us an email through our
online contact form.
Spring
Spring weather can vary greatly in the Chicagoland area. March and April can feel like winter or summer—or somewhere in the middle. As the area’s wettest season, slick or even icy roadways and sidewalks can create treacherous conditions. Part of the accident risk associated with spring is that people often do not know what to expect. You can wake up in the morning, head to work, and have no idea that there may be ice on the road. This lack of preparation can lead to serious accidents, especially when road crews, business owners, and other parties responsible for the maintenance of the roads, parking lots, and sidewalks are unprepared for changing conditions.
Serious car wrecks and slips and falls are common springtime accidents.
Summer
Summer in Chicago gets people out and about. Between Cubs and White Sox games, Navy Pier, and various entertainment districts around the city, summer in Chicago provides plenty to do. Memorial Day and Fourth of July celebrations (like the Taste of Chicago) are typically lively, and many people take advantage of the thousands of public and private pools in the area and the beaches along Lake Michigan. While these activities all sounds great, they also pose significant injury risks. More people out and about can increase your risk of involvement in motor vehicle or
pedestrian accidents, and DUI accidents tend to spike around holidays. In addition, like other water-based activities, visiting a pool or water park poses a real risk of serious injury. Falls on pool decks, debris in the water, unsecured pool chemicals, and defective diving boards can all result in injuries that have the potential to result in long-term and severe complications.
Fall
As a transitional season, fall poses many of the same risks as spring. Unpredictable weather patterns can cause unexpected freezing temperatures, and accumulations of wet leaves are capable of making roadways and sidewalks extremely slippery. In addition, fall holidays have the potential to put people at risk of serious injuries. Labor Day tends to see an
increase in drunk drivers, and traditional Halloween activities put children at risk of involvement in serious pedestrian accidents—especially if they wear costumes that make them difficult to see or interfere with their ability to see their surroundings.
Winter
Winter in Chicago can be harsh. Sub-freezing temperatures, accumulations of snow and ice, poor visibility, and high winds can make getting from place to place extremely dangerous. As a result, Chicago winters put residents at risk of involvement in motor vehicle accidents and
slips and falls. In addition, every year, defective or improperly used space heaters cause serious burns and fires. Ice from downtown skyscrapers can fall on pedestrians. Finally, as is the case with other seasons, winter holidays bring office parties, family get-togethers, and other celebrations that often involve the consumption of alcohol. This, coupled with college students who are home for several weeks without anything to do, can result in significantly more drunk drivers on the road than during other times of the year. For this reason, your risk of involvement in a drunk driving wreck can significantly increase during the holidays.
Protect Your Rights
As a victim, take steps to protect your rights after an accident to maximize your chances of recovering compensation. To protect your rights:
- Gather as much information about your accident as you can. If appropriate, take pictures of the scene and obtain copies of any reports that police or others created. Try to get the contact information of anyone who saw your accident.
- Do not give any insurance company a written statement regarding your accident. Doing so could reduce the amount of compensation you recover or make it impossible to recover anything at all.
- Undergo a thorough medical evaluation, even if you think that your injuries will heal on their own. Having an official medical record of your injuries is extremely important when it comes to establishing damages during settlement negotiations.
- Do not accept a settlement before talking to a lawyer. Once you accept a settlement offer, it is next to impossible to recover compensation for any additional losses that come to light at a later date.
Call Abels & Annes, P.C., Today to Discuss Your Accident With a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer
Accidents can devastate victims, regardless of when they occur. The Chicago personal injury attorneys of Abels & Annes, P.C., are available to review the facts of your case at no cost to you, and they will let you know whether they believe that you have a claim. There is no obligation to retain us after your consultation, and if you choose to do so, you will not pay anything for legal representation unless we successfully recover compensation on your behalf. To schedule a meeting with an attorney, call us today at (312) 924-7575 or send us an email through our
online contact form.
