Poor weather conditions can restrict your visibility, compromise your tire’s traction, damage your windshield, and even take out your mirrors. The resulting damage can turn a routine drive into a life-changing car accident. If you get into a collision because of bad weather, let our personal injury lawyers at Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Auerbach, Monte, Sloane, Matthews & Auslander, P.C. tell you what you need to know.
What Makes Bad Weather So Dangerous for Drivers?
Wet or icy roads can reduce the grip that your tire’s treads have on the road, which can compromise your ability to stop your vehicle or maintain control while turning. Heavy rain or fog can prevent you from seeing the road or any potential hazards. Even strong winds can push your car off course and endanger you and others.
Bad weather also forces drivers to react quickly. Sudden changes in conditions leave little room for error, and not all drivers adjust their behavior appropriately. When drivers fail to slow down, increase their following distance, or use headlights in poor visibility, they create dangerous situations that can lead to devastating accidents.
Who Is Responsible for a Car Accident Caused by Bad Weather?
If another driver causes your collision or accident during poor weather, you will need to prove that they failed to exercise reasonable caution in order to hold them liable for your injuries. For example, you need to prove that they failed to reduce their speed or took a turn too sharply for the conditions.
To determine fault in weather-affected car accidents, Pennsylvania courts evaluate whether a driver adjusted their driving accordingly: if the at-fault driver ignored posted warnings, drove recklessly, or failed to react to hazards, they could bear liability for any resulting injuries or damages. In other instances, if unplowed snow or untreated ice played a role, you could hold the overseeing municipal or state agencies responsible.
Can You File a Claim After a Weather-Related Car Accident?
If another party’s negligence in poor weather caused your accident, you may be able to file an insurance claim to help you cover the associated costs such as medical bills, vehicle repairs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Even if insurance companies try to avoid paying out a claim by arguing that the weather caused the collision, you can prove negligence via accident reports, black box data, and eyewitness statements; Pennsylvania courts will allow you to recover compensation as long as you were less than 50% responsible for the collision.
Protect Your Rights After a Weather-Related Car Accident With the Chester County Car Accident Lawyers at Eckell Sparks
If you get into a collision because of another driver’s negligence, even in poor weather, speak with the Chester County car accident lawyers at Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Auerbach, Monte, Sloane, Matthews & Auslander, P.C. to advocate for your interests. Call us at 610-565-3701 or fill out our online form to schedule an initial consultation. Our Media and West Chester, Pennsylvania, offices serve clients in Delaware County, Chester County, and Montgomery County.