[nap_names id="FIRM-NAME-2"]

​Experienced ILLINOIS Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
& CHICAGO Injury Lawyers

Weather-Related Accidents

Motor Vehicle Crash Lawyers for People Injured in Chicago and Surrounding Areas

Throughout the Chicago area, weather can affect travel on roads and highways. Weather-related accidents can be caused by flooding, snow, severe winds, and icy conditions. When victims suffer injuries in a vehicle crash due to the careless conduct of another driver, that driver can be held responsible for causing their harm. According to Illinois law, injured individuals may be entitled to recover compensation for all of the injuries related to the collision through a personal injury claim. The dedicated Chicago car accident attorneys at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca diligently work to build a strong case for monetary compensation on behalf of clients throughout Illinois. Drivers who fail to account for poor weather conditions may be held legally at-fault when their conduct causes a weather-related accident, resulting in injuries or death.

Recover Damages for Harm Suffered in a Weather-Related Accident

To recover compensation after a weather-related vehicle crash, victims must make clear that an at-fault driver or entity caused the accident. In a personal injury lawsuit, individuals often allege the negligence of one or more other drivers. Negligence requires showing that careless or unreasonable conduct directly caused a collision and the resulting harm. Drivers who fail to use the level of care that others would use in the same situation may be found by a judge or jury to have breached their duty of care.

Weather may necessitate adjusting driving to accommodate the conditions. For example, in icy conditions or heavy rain, it may be necessary to reduce speed. In Chicago and nearby areas, weather-related accidents can occur in winter months as well as during summer storms. Additionally, since all drivers are expected to ensure the safety of others on the road, when a driver fails to provide extra space on wet or icy roads, or they fail to check that their vehicle has inflated tires, this conduct may be seen as negligent. In some weather conditions, it may be required that drivers pull over and wait for the harsh weather to pass.

In some circumstances, a local government entity may be responsible for causing harm in a weather-related accident. Failing to properly maintain roads, for example, or repair damaged road signage may contribute to an accident and subject the state or county to liability. Investigating all of the underlying factors in a weather-related accident is important, and it would be necessary to prove the defendant’s negligence in failing to maintain the road that caused the accident.

The types of injuries suffered in a weather-related accident can be dire. After showing the legal fault of the driver, a victim may recover damages that compensate them for their costs and subjective forms of harm. Not only do accident victims suffer physically when they are injured in a crash, but also they may endure emotional pain that includes anxiety and depression related to the accident. By documenting all of the medical care and expenses related to their physical harm, these quantifiable costs can be secured as damages in an injury lawsuit. Additionally, lost wages from work missed due to injuries may be recovered.

In the event that a weather-related crash has led to a fatality, survivors may pursue a wrongful death claim according to Illinois law. As with other car accident legal claims, the fault of the other driver must be shown through carefully documented evidence. The types of damages that may be recovered are intended to benefit the surviving family, and they take into account the financial burdens that they have sustained due to the loss of their loved one.

Preserve Your Right to Compensation by Retaining a Skilled Chicago Lawyer

Accidents resulting from weather-related conditions, including wet roads, snow, and extreme winds, may give rise to a right to compensation if someone failed to adjust their behavior to these conditions. At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, our attorneys understand the impact of an accident upon the lives of innocent victims and their families. We strive to provide personal and thorough legal representation, helping people in Springfield, Champaign, Aurora, Quincy, Rockford, and other areas of Sangamon, Winnebago, Adams, Kane, and Cook Counties. To schedule a free consultation with an injury lawyer, contact our office by calling 312-724-5846 or reach us online to begin the process of moving forward with your legal claim.