Who Is At Fault When Weather Causes A Car Accident?

February 20, 2023

Often, drivers who experience car accidents involving poor weather feel unfairly blamed for their actions. After all, the weather is unpredictable and no driver can control it. But the reality is that drivers do have the power to decide whether or not to drive in poor weather and they can change their driving behavior to compensate for changes in the weather.

Driver Responsibilities In Dangerous Weather

If you are a truck driver, you are required by law to take extra precautions in bad weather. This includes slowing down and adjusting your driving habits to keep you, your truck, and the people around you safe. You are also responsible for inspecting your vehicle before every trip. This ensures you are up to date on safety requirements and identifies any issues that may present problems.

Even if your truck is designed to handle poor weather, it doesn’t mean you don’t have to be aware of the risks and take extra caution while on the road. If you are working for a large corporation, make sure they have an established policy on the responsibilities of employee drivers when it comes to bad weather. This can help to prevent work-related accidents from happening, resulting in fatalities and serious injuries.

Drivers Have The Power To Change Their Driving Behavior

In bad weather, drivers need to be able to adjust their driving behavior to compensate for changes in the weather. This includes slowing down, adjusting their speed, and keeping track of their blind spots. It also involves implementing real-time driver safety alerts that can signal unsafe behaviors when they occur. This can include accelerating too quickly, stopping suddenly, cornering too fast, or failing to maintain the posted speed limit.

Drivers Are Still Responsible For An Accident They Cause

Drivers are responsible for their actions on the road, even when they are driving in bad weather. They are required to drive safely, follow the speed limit, and obey all traffic laws. When drivers are involved in a car accident, it can be difficult to determine if they were at fault or not. However, if the driver was acting recklessly or negligently in the conditions, they may be held liable for the crash. If a driver is found to be at fault, they can seek compensation from the other party. This includes their medical bills, lost wages and other damages they incurred during the accident.

Drivers Can Use An “Act Of God” Defense

In some cases, a driver may be able to use an “Act of God” defense to avoid liability. The “Act of God” defense is a legal term that refers to events in nature that are so unusual or extraordinary that they cannot be anticipated and could not have been prevented by reasonable foresight or care. Examples of this defense include a lightning strike, earthquake, tidal wave, hurricane, or tornado. In order to use the “Act of God” defense, there must be proof that the weather condition was the sole cause of the accident and that no human intervention could have prevented it. This is usually a rare case, but it can happen.

Categorised in: ,

Request Your Free
Case Evaluation

Get the legal help you need from
The Law Offices of Max G. Arnold.

Send us a Message

Text Us

We Take Care of Our Clients

May 30, 2019 Kristen
"Based on his staff alone, I would definitely use Mr. Arnold for all my personal injury needs. Here's hoping I won't need him anytime soon..."
May 30, 2019 Jana
"I was greeted warmly by everyone initially. I had answers to my questions in a timely manner. I feel like my settlement could have been more..."
May 30, 2019 Alma
"When I first consulted with Max Arnold and his staff I knew he was the attorney I wanted to represent me. He is straight with his answers an..."
May 30, 2019 Elaine
"I am pretty weary of personal injury lawyers, but when the day came that I actually needed one, I was glad I found Max. I was hit by a drive..."
May 30, 2019 Bartholomew
"Mr. Arnold deserves a lot of respect for what he does. I was hit by a drunk driver, and I needed some physical therapy that the other insura..."
The Law Offices of Max G. Arnold