Treacherous conditions across the UK in the wake of this week’s cold snap have led to a significant rise in the number of accidents reported. The icy weather, which has seen temperatures drop as low as -11°C in some parts of the country, has caused thousands of accidents both on and off the roads. Some hospitals have reported emergency admissions 50% above the level expected at this time of year. Whilst many injuries caused by the icy weather are just unfortunate accidents, there are some circumstances where a claim could be brought against either a landowner or a council for failing to keep a particular area or a road ice free.
Slips and trips in icy weather are an unfortunate fact of life. However there are circumstances where a landowner or a business will have responsibility for keeping an area ice-free. These include areas of land where the public would need to gain access, such as the entrance to a shop or supermarket, or a petrol station forecourt. In the case of a local council, they may have a duty of care to the users of a busy public building such as a library or leisure centre to keep heavily trafficked areas ice free. Business also have a responsibility to ensure their employees’ safety in icy weather, so areas outside offices and factories should also be kept ice free to minimise to the risk of slipping and tripping accidents.
It is not just pedestrians that are at a greater risk of having an accident during the cold weather; icy roads pose a risk to car and lorry drivers and motorcyclists. On busy roads, an icy surface can create an accident black spot, especially if the ice is difficult to see, or the road has a high speed limit. Councils and the highways agency between them share responsibility for keeping major roads free of ice, and any accidents caused by ice on these roads could at least in part be due to a failure to grit a particular road.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by slipping or tripping on an icy surface and you would like advice on whether you can make a compensation claim, call Camps Solicitors today on 0800 092 9200. Our personal injury and road traffic accident lawyers will be able to give you a free initial assessment of the prospects of making a successful claim, and if we believe you have got a strong case, we will be happy to make your claim on a No-Win No-Fee basis.
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