Driving comes with an inherent degree of risk, but certain circumstances can increase the likelihood of a crash occurring. Inclement weather can make driving far more dangerous than normal. Heavy winds can push vehicles around on the road. Aggressive precipitation can affect visibility, and wet pavement can affect how well people can maneuver and stop in traffic.
When the weather is particularly severe, the possibility of a car crash is noticeably higher. Sometimes, schools close when the weather is bad. However, adults usually still need to get to work and manage various needs for their households, such as purchasing groceries. People can’t just stay off the roads during storms.
Those involved in collisions during times of inclement weather may be uncertain about their rights. Both insurance claims and lawsuits generally require a designation of fault. Does extreme weather protect people from being at fault if they cause a crash?
Motorists know to adjust their habits
The weather itself does not cause crashes. Improper driving based on the weather does. Snow, rain and heavy winds are all regular seasonal occurrences. Drivers generally receive instruction on how to handle each of these scenarios when they undergo their initial training to obtain a license. Additionally, public awareness and safety campaigns help remind people of how to adjust their habits for enhanced safety when the weather is bad.
As a general rule, best practices during times of inclement weather include avoiding the roads when possible, reducing travel speeds and increasing following distances. Drivers generally want to avoid making abrupt or aggressive maneuvers when the roads are wet or icy and may need to be careful about maintaining control when winds are strong.
Many people simply drive as they normally do and may cause a wreck when they cannot maneuver or stop as they usually do. The failure to adjust driving habits to reflect weather conditions does not absolve someone of responsibility for causing a crash. Police departments, insurance companies and the courts can still determine that one party is directly responsible for a wreck that occurred during severe weather.
Holding a driver accountable after a car crash caused by improper driving in bad weather is typically possible. Reviewing the circumstances of a crash can help people begin developing a compensation claim.