Motor vehicle accidents can occur for countless reasons. Most traffic accidents are caused by drivers’ carelessness or defective road signals, while most others are the consequence of accidental circumstances. This time of year, many car collisions are a result of hazardous weather conditions, like rain, fog, lightening, snow, and ice. Wearing your seat belt and driving at a safe speed are two significant ways to prevent injury and accidents from happening; however, there are some motor vehicle accidents that cannot be avoided. Sometimes, these poor weather conditions cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles, spin into other lanes, collide into embankments, hit curbs, and much more.

Black ice is a common culprit behind losing control of a vehicle in bad weather. It is a frequent hazard that causes accidents just like the ones mentioned above. But to what degree are you guilty if you slide on black ice, lose control of your vehicle, and collide into another driver? Is it pure accident or should you be held liable for the other drivers’ damages? Continue reading to learn more about liability in a traffic collision caused by black ice, or other severe weather conditions.

Motor Vehicle Accidents and Liability

If you were to slide on black ice while operating a motor vehicle, and subsequently collide into another vehicle, causing that driver and their passenger’s injury or damage, would you be liable? The short answer is maybe; but there is a much longer explanation. The most important factor to consider when determining who responsible in a car accident is whether or not a driver acted carelessly, or if they acted reasonably, even in dangerous weather conditions. Did a driver act in accordance to the standard of care expected by a reasonable person? Or were they driving recklessly?

For example, if a reasonable person was driving in poor weather conditions, like snow or ice, they would “reasonably” drive at a safe and cautious speed, rather than driving at the suggested legal speed limit because their visibility and control is limited. On the other hand, a reckless driver would continue to drive normally, in poor weather, at the suggested speed limit. If it were a sunny and dry day, then driving at the recommended speeds is, of course, reasonable; however, in dangerous weather conditions, a reasonable driver would slow down and drive more cautiously. This is a huge factor in determining liability in a motor vehicle accident lawsuit, whether natural elements were supposedly the cause or not.

Another aspect to consider is the condition of the vehicle. If the owner of the car or truck did not reasonably care for their vehicle in order for it to drive safely and function properly, then they may be at-fault for a car accident that occurs in poor weather. For example, if a person has very old, bald, and worn out tires on their vehicle, and they lost control on ice or a wet spot, then poor weather is not the sole reason why an accident happened.

Had the driver reasonably serviced their tires, they may not have slid on the ice or slick spot to begin with because they would have had better traction and stability control. Other reasonable maintenance for a car would include functional windshield wiper blades, good brake pads and rotors, functional brake lights and head lights, and much more. These, and more, are additional concerns that an insurance adjuster might look at when determining liability in a car accident case. These types of lawsuits are often tricky and complex. There are several factors and variables that determine who is at-fault in a car accident.

If you are ever an innocent victim in a traffic accident that was caused by another person’s reckless driving, contact an Indianapolis car accident attorney right away. You may be entitled to compensation for your damages, such as lost wages, medical expenses, hospital bills, vehicular damages, pain, suffering, mental anguish, prolonged rehabilitation, and much more.

Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C.

Call Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to speak with a car accident lawyer in Indianapolis, Indiana. Attorney, Daniel Craven, is a licensed personal injury lawyer with several years of litigation and trial experience. He is happy to answer your questions about filing a car accident lawsuit, and assess your eligibility for recompense. Our law firm offers free initial consultations and never collects lawyer fees unless we win your settlement! Call 317-881-2700 for more information about recovering compensation following a motor vehicle
accident in Indianapolis, IN.