Inclement weather conditions often contribute to car accidents. Despite this, drivers are still responsible for making every reasonable effort to prevent accidents. In fact, even when bad weather conditions are present, most car accidents still take place due to driver negligence.
If you have questions about how inclement weather that was present at the time might impact your car accident case, you have options. Talking to a nationwide car accident attorney about what you should do and entrusting them with your case will give you your best chance at recovering full and fair financial compensation and allow you to concentrate on your recovery. If you sustained injuries in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, we can help you prove fault, and pursue compensation for your damages. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
How Do Poor Weather Conditions Contribute to Car Accidents?
Numerous kinds of weather can cause or contribute to car accidents in various ways. Knowing the best way to confront changing weather and how to drive safely no matter the current conditions is essential. When weather conditions are unfavorable, drivers need to adapt their driving or get off the road in order to avoid serious collisions.
Weather conditions that often affect driving are:
Rain
One of the most common weather conditions that affects safe driving is rain. When roadways are wet, they are slick which means vehicles require a greater braking distance than they would on dry asphalt. When it is raining, drivers should follow safety protocols such as turning their headlights on, decreasing their speed, and leaving additional space between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them to ensure they have enough room to come to a stop safely. Heavy rain can also significantly decrease visibility, so making sure that your windshield wipers are in good working order is imperative.
Flooding
Standing water poses a serious hazard to drivers. Your risk of hydroplaning increases considerably, and smaller vehicles can be swept off the roadway, even in shallow water. In some instances, accidents caused by standing water can be caused by defective roadway design. If this is the case, the contractor or government entity that built or designed the roadway could be held liable.
Snow, Ice, and Sleet
Snowy, icy, and sleet-covered roadways pose a serious risk, particularly when they develop in parts of the country that don’t normally experience this type of weather. These areas generally do not have the infrastructure or resources necessary to plow their streets or take preventative measures such as salting the roadways. Additionally, a lot of drivers from these areas have little to no experience driving in winter weather conditions. Drivers should decrease their speed, leave additional room for braking, and avoid driving in snow, ice, and sleet when possible.
Wind
Wind is probably not the first type of inclement weather that comes to mind when thinking about weather-related car accidents. For those who drive high-profile vehicles, however, it can have a significant impact. Strong winds can cause large vehicles to crash and make trucks extremely hard to control.
Fog
Unlike other types of precipitation, fog can develop out of nothing and precede or follow multiple kinds of weather conditions at any time, day or night. The biggest issue with fog is that it dramatically diminishes visibility; it is hard for you to see other vehicles and it is hard for them to see you. Fog also makes it difficult to notice stop signs, traffic lights, and other traffic control devices. The thicker the fog is, the greater your chances are of running into a fixed object or even another vehicle. Combine thick fog with any other hazardous roadway condition, and your odds of being involved in a car accident are quite high. Fortunately, fog does not usually last very long so cautious drivers would do well to avoid getting behind the wheel until it dissipates.
Who Is Liable for a Weather-Related Car Accident?
In most car accident cases, one or both drivers involved in the crash are going to be found liable. In wet driving conditions or conditions that cause poor disability, drivers are expected to uphold their duty of care by adjusting their speed and other driving behaviors. Failing to do so constitutes negligence, so if you can prove they failed to act in a reasonable manner and that failure was the cause of your injuries, they could be held legally liable for your damages.
That said, other parties could potentially be liable or share liability for a weather-related car accident. These can include the government entity that operates or owns the roadway, the firm that designed it, or the contracting company that built it. Proving this type of case is challenging and usually involves working with professionals, such as civil engineers, to fully understand how the road defect or faulty design led to your accident.
Can Inclement Weather Affect My Compensation?
Depending on the state in which your crash occurred, you may be able to hold the at-fault driver liable and recover financial compensation for your injuries and other damages. Even in bad weather, all drivers have a duty to obey all driving laws and prevent accidents. Their insurance carrier is well aware of this and, if you have strong supporting evidence, may be willing to offer you a fair settlement in lieu of having you file a suit against their policyholder. If your case goes to trial, a jury will review the evidence presented by your attorney and, based on the strength of that evidence, decide if you are entitled to compensation.
Consult With a Nationwide Car Accident Attorney
If you were injured in a car accident that was caused or contributed to by inclement weather and are seeking legal advice, reach out to the nationwide car accident attorneys at Local Accident Reports. If another driver’s negligence played a role in your accident, we can conduct an investigation and fight for maximum compensation on your behalf. Call us today at (888) 657-1460 to schedule your free consultation.