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Car crashes can happen at any time and anywhere. However, when bad weather is involved, the chances of a crash increase exponentially. According to the Federal Highway Administration, nearly 22% of auto crashes each year occur in bad weather such as rain, sleet, snow, fog, heavy winds, or ice.
Since driving in adverse weather conditions is dangerous, many people believe they should not be held accountable for an accident because of weather conditions they cannot control. However it is the driver’s responsibility to adapt to road conditions. Drivers can be held responsible if they fail to drive cautiously during bad weather conditions.
Here are ways in which a driver can act negligently during times of inclement weather:
When a car crash happens during bad weather, insurance companies and attorneys need a way to know whether or not a driver is at fault. Attorneys will look to see if:
There are rare circumstances when a driver can use an “Act of God” defense to prove that they were not liable for the crash. Such defense is permissible when the weather was extremely unexpected or unusual and the driver would not have been able to avoid the accident.
However, a driver may be liable for a crash even if the weather was a contributing factor. Drivers need to drive cautiously when roads are slick and weather is bad. If you or a loved one were involved in a weather-related car accident, you have options to get the compensation you deserve. For a free consultation with our team of attorneys at Scartelli Olszewski, P.C., contact us today.
Source:
https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/q1_roadimpact.htm
https://www.thezebra.com/resources/research/winter-driving-statistics/