With the autumn season comes the beautiful scenery of colorful leaves. Though this may be what you least expect, autumn leaves pose a great safety hazard on the Washington, D.C. roads and sidewalks. Follow along to find out what autumn safety hazards you should be cautious of and how a proficient Washington, D.C. injury lawyer at Simeone & Miller, LLP can aid you in the event of an accident.
What autumn safety hazards should I be cautious of?
Usually, a city-owned entity is responsible for sweeping leaves off the roads. Similarly, property owners hold a duty of care in clearing leaves from their premises for visitors and passersby. With that being said, examples of potential car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and slip and fall accidents that may be prompted by unswept leaves are as follows:
- Car accidents:
- Wet leaves may be as slippery as black ice, which ultimately makes it difficult for drivers to time their braking.
- Leaves may stick to car windshields, which ultimately makes it difficult for drivers to maintain visibility.
- Leaves may clog storm drains, causing ponding or minor flash flooding, which ultimately makes drivers more susceptible to hydroplaning.
- Pedestrian accidents:
- Leaf piles may be blocking a standing area, which ultimately forces pedestrians to stand on the road as they wait to cross.
- Leaf piles may cause an obstruction of view, which ultimately makes it difficult for drivers and pedestrians to detect one another.
- Slip and fall accidents:
- Leaf piles at an entranceway may be hiding hire hydrants, large sticks, or other debris, which ultimately makes it dangerous for visitors and passersby to walk through.
- Leaves may hide uneven surfaces at an entranceway, which ultimately makes it dangerous for visitors or passersby to walk through.
What should I do if I encounter the hidden danger of autumn leaves?
If you encounter unassuming autumn leaves but incur injuries and damages as a result, then you may consider filing a personal injury claim. This claim may be placed against a city-owned entity, a property owner, or otherwise. With this, you may need to offer evidence of how the autumn leaves posed such a danger. Examples of such evidence are as follows:
- Photos and videos of the scene of your accident, including the leaves and other external factors that may have contributed.
- Witness testimonies that describe the events of your accident, including disclosures on how leaves and other external factors may have contributed.
- A copy of the police report filed at the scene of your accident.
- A copy of a store incident report filed at the scene of your accident, if applicable.
This is all to say that you must take your personal injury claim seriously. This starts with retaining the services of a talented Washington, D.C. injury lawyer. Contact Simeone & Miller, LLP today.