How Your Actions May Contribute To An Storm-Related Car Accident
Just because you were involved in an accident during a storm, it doesn't mean that the weather was 100% responsible for your woes. There are circumstances in which you may be judged to have contributed to a storm-related accident. Here are some of those circumstances:
You Were Not Using Your Headlights
Visibility reduces during a storm, which is why it's advisable to switch on the headlights if you are driving in a storm. The headlights are not only for you to see the road, but also for other drivers to see you. If you are not using your headlights, for example, you may not see a fallen tree in time to stop safely or you may not see a stalled car in time to stop. In either case, the authorities are likely to judge that you were at least partially responsible for the crash.
You Were Driving Too Fast
Slowing down during a storm is necessary for the safety of all road users, and there are many reasons for this. For example, if you don't slow down, you may not get enough braking distance if you notice a road obstacle. Controlling a car is also challenging during a storm, especially if there are strong winds or the road is icy and slippery; this means you can easily lose control of the car if you are driving fast. If the court determines that you could have avoided the accident by slowing down, then you may be held partly responsible for the crash.
Note that in such a situation, it may not matter that you were driving under the speed limit. All road users are required to drive in reasonably safe speeds during storms. Therefore, you may be judged to have been driving at a dangerous speed even if you were not breaking the speed limit.
Your Vehicle Isn't Properly Maintained
A poorly maintained vehicle can cause an accident at the best of times, but it becomes particularly dangerous in a storm. For example, worn out tire treads may lose their grip on the road and cause the car to skid and crash. In such a case, your poor maintenance of the car will be used to prove your partial liability for the crash.
You Were Tailgating
As indicated above, controlling a car in a storm isn't easy and visibility also reduces during a storm. This means the risks of accidents increase during storms. Therefore, motorists are supposed to leave reasonably safe distances between their cars and other road users. If you are tailgating in a storm, you may not have enough time to stop if the car in front suddenly skids or roll. In such a case, it makes sense that you will be judged to have contributed to the crash.
You still have the right to pursue auto accident damages even if others think you contributed to the crash. Talk to a car accident firm, like Kaston & Aberle, for guidance on how to proceed.
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