Personal Legal Services

Weather-Related Accident Claims

At Garratts, we support clients with their weather-related accident claims in Manchester & Oldham. Most of the claims we handle have a No Win No Fee agreement.

Wind, snow, rain and icy roads are often the cause of weather-related accidents involving road users and pedestrians. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by adverse weather conditions, speak to Garratts’ team of personal injury solicitors who will work hard to help you secure the compensation you deserve.

 

Types of adverse weather accidents

In 2014 the Department for Transport (DfT) published figures depicting 29 fatalities, 251 serious injuries and 2,274 slight injuries; all of which were caused by road traffic accidents due to snow or ice on British roads. We’ve listed some of the most common types of adverse weather accidents below:

  • Slips, trips & falls due to icy supermarket entrances, or snow on pedestrian walks and road-crossings
  • Injuries resulting from flooding
  • Accidents due to poor road conditions including ungritted roads or insufficiently filled potholes
  • Accidents due to snow and ice
  • Flying debris
  • Motorist accidents due to visibility issues
  • Road accidents caused by faulty equipment or vehicle fuel leaks

 

Who is liable for accidents resulting from adverse weather conditions? 

In order to claim compensation for weather-related injuries, you will need to provide evidence to prove the liability of a third party. An example of this could be a local authority such as the council inadequately gritting a public road and you suffering injuries from a car accident as a result of this. 

In line with RoSPA guidelines, local authorities are advised to grit and re-grit road surfaces as part of their regular road maintenance programmes. In order to claim liability, you may question whether the responsible local authorities took precautions in advance and fulfilled their legal obligations. 

Be aware that employers have also been encouraged by RoSPA to implement winter driving policies and review driving arrangements with their employees.

 

Which incidents are classed as ‘Acts of God’?

Sometimes incidents aren’t preventable and you may experience difficulty in claiming compensation due to natural disasters occurring outside of human control. Those types of incidents are also referred to as Acts of God. They are sudden, unforeseen events impossible to guard against or prevent. Acts of God are extreme weather scenarios such as tsunamis or earthquakes causing severe disruption and damage to the environment, roads and traffic. 

 

Car accidents in snow and ice in 2023

The winter months are often a dangerous time for road users posing an increased risk of accidents occurring due to sub-zero temperatures coupled with snowfall and bad visibility. Road traffic accidents caused by poor weather conditions are the main cause of serious and in some case, life-threatening injuries during winter. They can severely impact the victims’ physical and mental health as well as that of their families. 

If you have been involved in a car accident in the snow which wasn’t your fault, our road traffic accident solicitors will be able to review your case and arrange a free consultation.

 

What is the process for making a weather-related accident claim?

Start by contacting Garratts for a free initial consultation. Following an initial review of your case, we will then advise you as to whether we think you will be able to claim compensation. Following on from this, our team accrue all evidence required to support your claim and inform the liable third party. We will also organise an independent medical examination report for you to ensure the best possible outcome for your compensation claim. Any necessary negotiations will be carried out by our team and if required, we will represent you in court. 

 

Why choose Garratts Solicitors for your weather-related accident claim?

Contact our team of legal experts on 0161 665 3502 to discuss your claim for a weather-related accident caused by no fault of your own. You may also decide to fill in our contact form. Rest assured that we will sensitively discuss your case, and if you do decide to proceed with your claim, we will keep you informed as your claim gets processed. All of our personal injury services are offered on a No Win No Fee basis.

Accreditations

 
Personal Injury
Mental Health Review Accreditation
Children Law
Criminal Defence Service
Lexcel