Winters in Connecticut can be particularly harsh, and 2017 has been no exception. When there is inclement weather, there is an increased danger of a car accident. Compounding the issue is the difficulty to see, the number of people who are trying to navigate while on slippery surfaces, and the large vehicles that are used to remove ice and snow. Those who are injured or lose a loved one in an incident in poor weather have the right to seek compensation for it.
A snowplow that was clearing a parking lot in an apartment complex during a recent snowstorm hit an elderly man who was cleaning snow from his car, killing him. According to the accident investigation, at around 3:30 p.m., the plow was backing up and hit the 83-year-old man. The 47-year-old operator of the plow is cooperating with investigators. The man who was hit was taken to the hospital after the accident and died shortly thereafter.
People, who are operating their vehicles in the inclement weather, even if it is in the service of the city or as part of private work, must make sure they account for the lack of stopping power and other dangers they will face when out on the road. Gathering evidence is particularly important when there is a snowstorm as it can be difficult to accrue once the snow and ice are cleared.
Although the operator of the snowplow is said to be distraught and this was clearly an accident, that does not eliminate the responsibility to compensate those who are suffering after the man’s death. The family should protect itself by discussing a possible legal filing with an attorney experienced in accidents that come about in the snow, ice and other forms of bad weather.
Source: WFSB, “Police release name of 82-year-old man who died in snow plow accident,” Kaitlyn Naples & David McKay, March 15, 2017
