Poor weather such as rain, snow, ice, or fog can make your everyday commute treacherous. Anyone who has driven in these or similar conditions can attest, poor weather often has a negative effect on vehicle performance and maneuverability and a driver’s visibility. As a result, it is unsurprising that poor weather plays a role in a significant number of car accidents each year. Many people are under the mistaken impression that they cannot bring a claim if their accident was caused by poor weather. In reality, many poor weather car accidents result in significant recovery for victims. As a result, anyone who has been involved in a car accident that occurred during adverse weather should contact one of our St. Louis car accident attorneys as soon as possible.
Negligence in Poor Weather is Still Negligence
Drivers owe the public a duty to operate their vehicles in a way that does not pose an unreasonable risk of injury to others. The degree of care that a driver is legally required to exercise is the same degree of care that would be exercised by a reasonably prudent driver in similar circumstances. When they fail to do so and their negligence1 causes an accident, they can often be held liable for any losses that victims sustain as a result. What is deemed “reasonable” depends significantly on the circumstances – for example, while it may be perfectly reasonable to drive at the posted speed limit on a clear day, the same conduct may not be reasonable in blizzard conditions. Some of the more common forms of driver negligence that can result in a poor weather accident include the following:
- Driving too fast for the weather conditions
- Following too closely2
- Not using headlights
- Failing to engage windshield wipers when conditions warrant their use.
Contact a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer Today to Protect Your Legal Rights
When people are injured in car accidents that occur during bad weather, the results can be devastating. The injuries that are often sustained can be extremely serious and may involve months or even years of lost income as well as medical expenses that may be well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. To discuss your case at no charge to you with one of our St. Louis car accident attorneys, call The Bruning Law Firm today at 314-735-8100.
LET US GET STARTED ON YOUR ST. LOUIS CAR ACCIDENT CASE TODAY
If you or someone you care about has been seriously injured in an auto accident, contact The Bruning Law Firm today. We provide the comprehensive, professional legal representation you deserve at a time when you need it most.
Call or contact our office online today to schedule a free consultation.
References:
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/negligence
- http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/30400000171.HTML
