Drivers may be all too familiar with dangerous road conditions, particularly when the weather is anything, but sunny. An experienced car accident lawyer, like an auto accident lawyer Canoga Park, CA relies on, knows all too well how weather can play a significant role in the cause of a car accident. Often, many victims are told that when weather is the culprit, it is an “act of God”, and therefore, no legal recourse is available. This is not true.

 

The car accident lawyers have successfully recovered millions in damages for victims of bad weather. If you were involved in a car accident, and weather is to blame, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible.

 

Bad Weather Driving

 

When the weather is bad, the roads can become slippery and difficult to navigate. Wind, fog, dust, mist, haze, snow, hail, and other conditions have been known to cause multi-car pile ups in seconds. Sometimes, in one storm, there are 100s of injured car accident victims and several more fatalities. It might seem reasonable that bad weather is not controllable; therefore, no one can be to blame. As a car accident lawyer might explain to you, this is not always the case.

 

There are certain governing entities who have a duty to:

 

  • Monitor weather conditions
  • Take the necessary steps to prevent accidents related to the weather
  • Conduct regular inspections of the roads
  • Maintain the roads
  • Respond in a reasonable time period to any reports of hazards due to the weather

 

Whenever these duties are not met, it may be true that the entity responsible for them can be held negligent; therefore, be liable to the victim. Determining whether or not a breach in duty has been made is not always obvious which is why it is important to retain a car accident lawyer who understands bad weather personal injury claims.

 

When a Government Entity is Responsible for Negligent Actions

 

In general, roadways are maintained by government entities or contracted parties. Holding the government responsible for negligence is a completely different matter than holding a private member of the public responsible. This is because government entities fall under the doctrine of sovereign immunity, which usually protects these entities from being sued for negligence or wrongdoing. That being said, it is not impossible. In fact, if a victim or their lawyer can prove that a poorly maintained road caused gross negligence, monetary compensation may be available. An example of gross negligence could include:

 

A government entity had advance warning of bad thunderstorms, heavy rain, and poor road conditions. They were ill prepared for the bad weather, and damaged roads caused water buildup that was not immediately visible. An accident occurred and the driver was injured. Monetary compensation could be available in this case.

Causes of Bad Weather Accidents

 

Car accident lawyers from our firm have handled bad weather personal injury claims that have involved conditions such as:

 

  • Flooding
  • Road debris
  • Flooding
  • Icy roads
  • Sleet
  • Missing guardrails
  • Potholes
  • Design flaws
  • Inadequate plowing
  • Erosion
  • + More

Car accidents involving bad weather are not easy to prove which is why as soon as possible, you should talk with a car accident lawyer who can review your case and let you know how best to proceed. To schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer, please call a lawyer now.


Thanks to our friends and contributors from Barry P. Goldberg, A Professional Law Corporation for their insight into car accidents in bad weather.

 

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