As the winter weather patterns begin, the likelihood of car accidents increases. Winter weather, including snow, sleet, and high winds can result in hazardous driving conditions for motorists that can result in major incidents on the roadways. Mother Nature, unfortunately, is willing to unleash her power that can be devastating when you have to drive often.
One of the best ways to avoid an accident this time of year is to practice common sense when you are driving. If the weather is poor, you will need to drive slower and proactively. It is crucial that you know how to react if you hit a patch of ice with your tire so that you minimize your damage as much as possible.
However, as careful as you can be, you cannot control how others behave on treacherous highways. When other drivers drive less than carefully, or downright dangerously, it is very easy for them to lose control and impact others on the road.
The following is some information you will need to know about driving in dangerous winter weather, as well as what you can expect should you become involved in an accident.
Accidents That Can Occur Due to Winter Weather
Poor driving in bad winter weather conditions can result in serious car accidents. In addition to paying attention to your surroundings, you also need to know the common causes of accidents this time of year so that you can remain as cautious as possible.
Driving too fast is one of the leading causes of accidents in bad weather. Without realizing it, you can very quickly hit black ice or pockets of water that can cause your car to hydroplane. You will have no control over where your vehicle goes while you are hydroplaning, so it is best to pay attention to ensure you avoid areas that hold that risk.
Inattention of other drivers on the road can also quickly result in an accident. If you are not being proactive on the road during bad winter weather, someone in front probably is. When you are not paying attention to how others are driving, you could find yourself in a collision.
For instance, if the driver in front of you suddenly hits the brakes due to a dangerous place on the road, you can end up rear-ending that driver because you were not looking at what was going on around you. The other driver was being cautious and paying attention to the roadway, which leaves you as the negligent party in this example.
The Role Negligence Plays in a Winter Car Crash
Accidents can happen in poor winter weather conditions, no matter how carefully you drive. If you are the victim in a crash, the first thing to do is discover who is at fault. Negligence on the part of the other driver is key to getting your damages paid.
You will need to provide proof that the other party was negligent in the accident to get some or all of your damages covered by insurance. You will need to show that the other driver did not take care to act reasonably within the scope of the weather conditions to properly and safely operate a vehicle and therefore was the primary cause of the accident.
To prove negligence, you can provide your own account of the accident, but you should also rely on witness statements, physical proof, and the report provided by the responding law enforcement. You may even want to hire an accident reconstructionist to recreate the scene based on the report if the other driver contests his or her negligence.