There are certain car accidents where it doesn’t seem like any one person would be at-fault. Take a car accident that occurs in bad weather, for example. Would the driver always be responsible for damages in this situation? Couldn’t you argue that external factors caused the crash, and thus no one is responsible? Find out the answer below.
Liability in Car Accidents in Bad Weather
Bad weather can come out of nowhere. One minute, you’re cruising down a sunny road and the next, torrential rain is obscuring your view. In such severe weather, you may think you may not be held responsible for any crash that occurs largely due to the elements. However, you would most likely be wrong. This is because all motorists are expected to drive safely, including in bad weather. Additionally, “driving safely” in sunny weather does not mean the same thing as it does in bad weather. For example, motorists are expected to drive slower (perhaps even under the speed limit) in bad weather and keep a greater following distance between vehicles. When motorists do this, it is assumed that most car accidents in bad weather could be avoided. There are certain situations, however, where a motorist may avoid liability for a car accident in bad weather. These situations must involve external negligence causing the crash, such as:- Confusing road signs that lead motorists into a collision course.
- Hazardous roads that have not been repaired or cleared.
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