Snow is coming. Unfortunately, the rate of accidents due to this will probably increase. So who is at fault when an accident happens due to weather? Bellingham Washington Personal Injury Attorney Bill Coats explains: To have a valid personal injury claim from a car accident, there’s got to be evidence of negligence. Negligence means the failure to take proper care in doing something. Every time drivers get out on the roads, there’s an agreement that we will all do what we can possibly do in maintaining safety for all concerned. It’s easy to find negligence if someone chooses to drive while drunk – driving drunk is proven to be unsafe and is therefore negligent behavior no matter what other factors are present in a car accident. However, if the driver who hit you on an icy or foggy day can reasonably say that the weather was the cause of the accident, that may throw a cog in your ability to hold this driver accountable, or liable, in a civil lawsuit. But, if the other driver was driving in a reckless or unreasonable manner, then your case strengthens. If he or she is speeding on a foggy night, or following too closely on an icy road, those kinds of things are dangerous in any conditions, and exacerbated by inclement weather. If you are in a weather related accident, call Bellingham Personal Injury Attorney Bill Coats at 360-303-0601. and he will answer your questions and advise you on whether you have a claim.
