Florida is no stranger to severe weather, and as such we have learned to cope and adapt to the sudden and often dramatic changes each day can bring. However, severe weather can often increase the risk of injuries as a result of the change in environment. When you are hurt, it is important to recognize how the weather may have played a factor in the accident, and how that property’s owner may have neglected to prepare their premises for the presence of weather effects.
Rain and Increased Slip-and-Fall Injuries
The summer months in Florida bring sometimes-daily monsoon rainstorms that make the grounds all around the state wet and possibly slippery. Water is also often tracked indoors, and in buildings with smooth, non-absorbent floors, this can create a major slip and fall hazard.
The onus is on property owners in these buildings to keep their floors as dry as possible to prevent slip-and-fall accidents. During rain, this can mean placing a non-slip doormat down at the entrance as well as a warning sign indicating the possible presence of moisture. If these steps are neglected, the unseen and possibly unexpected danger of a wet floor around the entrance could be grounds for a premises liability suit.
Slippery Roads
Rain also increases the slippery nature of our roads, forcing drivers to take an extra level of precaution while driving. However, not all drivers are so courteous to those with whom they share the streets.
If you are involved in an auto accident, you could be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries, particularly when wet roads may have been a factor. If the other party failed to take adequate precautions while operating their vehicle in the wet weather, their negligence could be a major contributor to their fault level, thus increasing your likelihood of recovering compensation benefits.
Lightning Strikes
Metal structures that extend upwards towards the sky become serious risks during thunderstorms, when lightning may strike the structure. When a thunderstorm is looming, property owners need to take adequate precaution to keep people away from any structure that could pose a lightning-strike risk in order to keep visitors to their premises safe. If you are injured from a lightning strike due to an unsafe structure, you could also be eligible to receive compensation. However, it’s important as a general rule to seek safe shelter as soon as possible and never stand near a structure that could function as a lightning rod during a thunderstorm.
If you have been injured by someone else’s negligence during severe weather, don’t attempt to secure your compensation alone; having your case evaluated by a Clearwater personal injury attorney can help you determine the best course for pursuing compensation. Bryan Caulfield, Esq. has assisted Clearwater’s injured and bereaved for over 25 years, and has handled more than 4,000 cases. His excellence has earned him honors such as inclusion on the list of Super Lawyers, a 10.0 Superb Rating from Avvo, and admission to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Call Bryan Caulfield, Esq. at 727.308.6060and request a free initial consultation for your personal injury case today.