Winter in Illinois can be brutal. And it's not just the freezing cold or the heavy snows, either. A big reason why winter is so treacherous is due to the weather-related hazards we must navigate every day.

Unfortunately, these hazards cause injuries more often than we'd like. In some cases, an accident is just that - an accident. In other cases, however, incidents like slipping, tripping and falling are the consequence of another party's negligence. So, who is to blame for winter accidents and injuries?

The numbers are sobering and unquestionably dismal.

Moreover, they recur annually with numbing regularity.

American cities are of course diverse and varied, with each commanding attributes that set them apart from all other urban environments.

Chicago is arguably unique in that regard.

No reasonable person in Illinois or elsewhere expects medical care providers to be perfect. We know that doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab techs and other industry principals, while highly trained, are not infallible.

What we do rightly expect of them, though, is competence and their adherence to an established standard of care that prevails in the health care community.