Posted in Car Accident Claim
Car Accident Lawyer
When you make a claim to an insurance company after a car accident, there are many things you have to consider to get the most in compensation. You may have to cover medical bills and property damage, and you may be partially at fault for causing the crash. When weather played a major role in your crash, you might wonder how that comes into play and affects your claim. Here’s what to expect from a claim involving ice, snow and other poor conditions.
Black Ice and Snow
Black ice comes out of nowhere and often leaves drivers wondering what happened after an accident. Snow can cause conditions with low visibility that can make driving more hazardous. Getting in an accident because of these conditions does not mean you are not liable for the accident. In fact, it is usually the contrary. Since you still chose to drive in bad weather, you can be held responsible.
Liability
Liability can still fall on your shoulders for an accident in bad weather. Choosing to drive during icy or snowy conditions is still a choice, and making a poor choice, much like deciding to run a stop sign, means you are liable for the accident. If you ran into another car by sliding on ice, the other driver may try to make a claim with your insurance company, and they have a right to. You can still recover damages if both drivers are at fault, but it may not be full compensation.
Avoiding Dangerous Black Ice
If you have to drive in bad weather, do so more cautiously and slower than you would under good conditions. Black ice is more likely to form on bridges and overpasses, as well as in shadows. If it rains when the temperature is below freezing, water on the ground is more likely to freeze. A sunny day after a snowstorm means melting snow, which can freeze after dark. You should drive carefully during these conditions to prevent an accident.
Lawyering Up
Occasionally, you may be able to prove that another party was at least partially at fault for the accident (aside from the other driver). Sometimes roads are not properly maintained or salted during bad weather, which can lead to an accident. If this is the case for you, the maintenance company may be held responsible, but this can be challenging to prove. Talking to a car accident attorney, like from Yearin Law Office, is a good idea to discuss your options and see if your case has a chance of winning. There may be state laws or other legal issues you aren’t aware of, and you’ll want to know about them before charging into a lawsuit.