Harsh Weather Conditions And Auto Accident Claims
Inclement weather does not just sour the day; it can also make for hazardous driving conditions. As a result, it is common for the number of auto accidents to increase when the weather is less than favorable. For the people involved in these accidents, it is important to understand that the harsh weather may not just be a contributing factor to their accident but could also play a role in the claims process.
Shared Fault
One of the more common outcomes that people face with accidents that involve harsh weather is shared fault. In this scenario, instead of placing liability on one driver, each driver essentially shares responsibility for the accident. As such, the financial costs involved in the accident are also shared.
For this reason, each person involved in the accident will typically file a claim with their own insurance company for the losses they incurred.
Safe Operations
In the immediate aftermath of an accident in harsh weather conditions, it is easy to assume that the weather is solely to blame for the incident. However, this statement is only partly true. The weather can increase the risk of an accident, but it is essential to understand that every driver is responsible for safely operating their vehicle.
Driving at a lower speed than usual or keeping a greater distance between the vehicle in front of you are just a couple of things that can be done. If it is discovered that a driver was not following these guidelines, they could be found to be entirely at fault for the incident.
Accident Reconstruction
As you can see, when harsh weather is involved, it is not always a simple process to determine who is to blame. For this reason, it is incredibly important for victims to partner with an attorney so that their accidents can be reconstructed. During this process, a team of experts will collect information about the accident, including damage and injuries, along with the roadway conditions to reconstruct what might have happened at the time of the collision.
Based on this reconstruction process, it is often easier to establish what factors beyond the weather, if any, were involved in the accident and, therefore, determine who holds responsibility for the accident.
If you have been involved in an accident where the weather was an issue, be sure to keep this information in mind and speak with an attorney about your situation. Contact an auto accident attorney near you to learn more.