Although car accidents can occur at any time, car accidents that involve bad weather can have especially devastating consequences. For example, icy roads, heavy rain, and other adverse weather conditions can make it challenging for drivers to safely operate their vehicles, leading to car accidents involving bad weather in Wheeling.
Auto accidents resulting from inclement weather are especially common in the Wheeling area due to its rural roads, hills, and curves. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident involving dangerous weather, an accomplished car accident attorney at Bordas & Bordas could help you seek compensation from any liable parties or their insurance companies.
Poor weather conditions can cause all types of motor vehicle collisions, including car, truck, and bus accidents. Bad weather conditions typically cause more single-vehicle accidents than multi-vehicle wrecks. This is because people are more likely to veer off the road, causing them to lose control of their vehicle. It is also common for adverse weather conditions in Wheeling to result in head-on car collisions because people may drift into another lane, causing them to collide with other vehicles. These accidents are particularly dangerous because they involve significant impacts between vehicles.
While there are some cases when a car accident was solely caused by poor weather conditions, it is common for a driver to have also contributed to the wreck. Insurance companies will often attempt to blame the weather rather than the driver to avoid liability.
Where there are adverse weather conditions, drivers are responsible for exercising extra caution on the road to prevent accidents. For instance, although drivers must comply with speed limits regardless of weather conditions, this is especially important when conditions are abnormal/hazardous. If a driver was speeding at the time of the crash, they could be liable for contributing to the crash.
While you may assume that bad weather caused your accident, if the other driver did not take the necessary precautions to avoid an accident, they can be held financially liable.
In cases where there were no other vehicles involved, you may want to review your insurance policy to ensure coverage for your losses. An attorney could also identify any potentially liable third parties. For example, if there are any road maintenance issues—such as a lack of warning signs for a hazardous area—the entity that owns the roadway could be held liable for any resulting car accidents in Wheeling, even if bad weather was involved. Additionally, if your vehicle had a defect at the time of the incident, you could pursue compensation from the vehicle manufacturer.
A lawyer could investigate your accident to determine who could be held financially responsible for your damages.
Following car crashes involving bad weather in Wheeling, it is crucial to gather evidence proving that weather conditions contributed to or caused the accident. Common types of evidence that can be used to prove adverse weather conditions include:
Even if there is no immediate evidence after a wreck, such as photographs, there is often plenty of weather data on various websites.
Car accidents involving bad weather in Wheeling can be traumatizing for everyone involved. Drivers are required to exercise caution when driving during poor weather conditions. An attorney at Bordas & Bordas could help identify all potentially liable parties and pursue maximum compensation from them or their insurance companies for your losses after a wreck. Schedule your free initial consultation today to discuss your case.
