What to Do When Winter Weather Causes An Auto Accident
Philadelphia is no stranger to bad winter weather, which can easily lead to auto accidents. So, what do you do when bad weather hits and causes an auto accident and when should you speak with Philadelphia accident lawyers to get a claim rolling?
Was There Negligence?
Even if you are in an auto accident in the bad weather, negligence still needs to be found to have an auto accident claim on your hand. However, it could be easier to find negligence during bad weather, as drivers are expected to drive with extra caution.
Bad winter weather conditions consist of fog, rain, ice, wind, and snow. When these conditions are present, all drivers should drive careful, sometimes even driving under the speed limit.
Driving Recklessly
Certain weather conditions such as fog, rain, and heavy snow can impair visibility easily requiring drivers to slow down. When going over even just a few miles per hour during these weather conditions, a bad accident can occur.
Rain, snow, and ice can also cause slick roads, impairing your ability to put on the breaks in time to prevent an accident. If an accident has occurred and there is proof that the driver didn’t slow down during these conditions, it might be considered reckless driving. This is where you will have a case on your hands and should speak with an attorney.
Another form of reckless driving is when the roads are so terrible that no one should be driving on them. When conditions are so bad and visibility is low, drivers are expected to stay off the road, but if they don’t and cause an accident, negligence will most likely be found.
Other Factors
Other factors come into play after an auto accident in bad winter weather. During a personal injury claim, other things will be looked at on top of the negligence of the driver causing accidents. Things such as the condition of the car, tires, windshield wipers, defogger, brakes, and headlights to see if any of these could have been a factor.
Other factors that need to be examined are whether the driver was impaired, or if fallen hazards from the weather (power lines and trees) could have caused the accident.
Moving Forward with a Claim
After being involved in an auto accident, the first thing is to always receive medical assistance. Even if you do not think you are injured, you still need to be examined by a doctor since some injuries such as whiplash can appear days after your accident.
The next step is to find an experienced personal injury attorney who specializes in auto accidents to offer you the legal advice you need to start a claim. A claim can help you receive compensation to help with any medical bills from your accident or other expenses that you have acquired from the auto accident.
Keep in mind that a claim from an auto accident can take some time, but it is usually worth it in the end. Have trust in your attorney and be patient with the process.
Edelstein Law
Edelstein Law is a top Philadelphia law firm that specializes in personal injury, especially auto accidents. The team at Edelstein Law will aggressively fight for you to get the compensation and justice that you deserve after being involved in an auto accident.