The autumn season still arguably has nice weather, enough for Maryland residents to spend much of their time outside the house. This is not to mention the business that comes with the school year commencing. Overall, this hustle and bustle may, unfortunately, cause accidents to commonly occur. Read on to discover how autumn conditions might cause an accident and how a seasoned Leonardtown personal injury lawyer at The Dorsey Law Firm can help you pinpoint the party to blame.
How might autumn conditions cause a personal injury accident?
Though it may be difficult to believe, leaves in the autumn may be just as dangerous as snow or ice in the winter. That said, such autumn conditions may make drivers, pedestrians, and passersby susceptible to any of the following personal injury accidents:
- Car accidents:
- Unswept leaves on the road may hide large potholes or uneven surfaces.
- Unswept leaves may clog storm drains and cause flooding on the road
- Pedestrian accidents:
- Large leaf piles may obstruct a driver’s view of a pedestrian crossing the street.
- Large leaf piles may spill over to a pedestrian’s standing area as they wait to cross.
- Slip and fall accidents:
- Wet and slippery leaves may block the entryway of a store or other property.
- Large leaf piles containing weather-related debris may block the entryway of a store or other property.
Who is to blame for my accident?
You may think of autumn leaves as an external factor beyond any party’s control. However, this may not necessarily be the case.
For one, unswept leaves on the Maryland roadways may be the fault of a state, county, or city-owned entity. This is because such an entity is required to promptly clear leaves, and any other hazardous conditions, from the roads. If this applies to you, then you may file a car accident claim, pedestrian accident claim, or otherwise against the entity. But first, you must submit a Notice of Claim to inform the entity of your intention to take legal action.
On the other hand, unswept leaves may be due to the negligence of a property owner. This is because an owner holds a duty of care in ensuring that their premises are free of any dangers. If this is your case, then you may pursue a premises liability claim.
Lastly, another automobile driver may have been driving recklessly. For instance, they may have been speeding and given themselves an insufficient amount of time to yield before maneuvering around a leaf pile. So, if you believe the combination of careless driving and unswept leaves contributed to your accident, then you may file a car accident claim.
This is all to say that you must take your personal injury claim seriously. This starts with retaining the services of a competent Leonardtown personal injury lawyer. Contact The Dorsey Law Firm today.
