Every year, over a million weather-related vehicle crashes occur, leading to thousands of deaths and almost half a million injuries. If you were involved in an accident due to inclement weather, make sure your attorney understands the complexity of determining liability in this complex situation. Hire an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible, such as the attorneys at the Connecticut firm of Leighton, Katz & Drapeau.
Who Is Responsible for An Accident in Bad Weather?
There’s no doubt that there are some bad weather accidents that are nobody’s fault. If a tree comes down in the middle of the road, even the most careful driver may get into trouble. But the reality is that most of the time when someone says, “it wasn’t me, it was the weather,” it means “I was driving as carefully as I normally do, the wet leaves/ice/low visibility caused my crash.” There’s something there the driver isn’t understanding, which is that when it’s raining, wet leaves will be on the road. When it’s snowing or sleeting, there will be ice. With almost any weather, visibility will be reduced. If you’re driving with your normal level of care in adverse weather—you are being careless.
Connecticut law says that drivers need to be driving reasonably for the situation. This means that if the situation changes, so, too, should the manner in which the person is driving. People who fail to adjust their driving behaviors to account for adverse weather conditions may be found to be negligent and liable for any harm they cause in an accident.
How to Protect Yourself in Bad Weather (Hint – SLOW DOWN!)
Much of the time, both parties will bear some responsibility for an accident in bad weather. Luckily, the best way to protect yourself legally is also the best way to protect yourself physically—be aware of common road hazards and drive appropriately to protect yourself. However, the single most important thing is to slow down.
Virtually every bad weather hazard can be mitigated by driving more slowly. Low visibility means you have less time to react if you see a hazard, so slow down. Large puddles on the road will cause hydroplaning if a car is driving fast enough, so slow down. Slipperiness, sudden obstacles in the road, wind—all of these things are significantly less dangerous if you simply slow down. And if something does go wrong and you’re forced to defend yourself, the fact that you were driving safely under the speed limit will help make the case that you were the reasonable party.
If You Were Injured Because Someone Was Driving Recklessly in Bad Weather, Call a Connecticut Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you suffered an injury as a result of someone else’s dangerous driving in a storm, make sure you hire an attorney with experience to get justice. Leighton, Katz & Drapeau is a firm that focuses on personal injury cases and can make sure you are compensated for your injuries. Contact us today for a free, no risk consultation at 860-875-7000. Serving the greater Hartford area.
