During the winter season, snow, sleet, and wind make traveling New York roads slippery, increasing the prevalence of car accidents. Bad weather accidents can cause severe injuries, resulting in lifelong medical complications or even death. While drivers are not responsible for bad weather, they are responsible for responding to bad weather. Negligent drivers who fail to drive reasonably in bad weather are liable for any injuries they cause in an accident.
If you or your loved one have become injured in a bad weather accident in New York, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side. With over a decade of experience, attorney Michael J. Redenburg focuses on maximizing compensation for his clients. He understands how devastating it can be to suffer an injury in a bad weather accident and will advocate for your right to compensation. If you’ve suffered serious injuries in a bad weather accident in New York, our law firm can help. We are aware of your financial burdens and will not charge you any legal fees until we win your case. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.
Motor Vehicle Accidents Involving Wind and Rain
New York drivers are all too familiar with the many types of bad weather conditions that contribute to motor vehicle accidents. Rain and thunderstorms can make it incredibly dangerous to drive on New York highways. Heavy rain can create slick roads, causing drivers to hydroplane, slide, or even float in areas with high levels of flooding. Heavy rain can also impair a driver’s visibility, making it difficult for the driver to see the vehicle in front of him or her. Similarly, dense fog can reduce visibility to the point where drivers cannot see anything outside of their windshield, significantly increasing the risk of motor vehicle accidents.
Severe weather can make it difficult to control motor vehicles, including large tractor-trailers. Wind can also blow large pieces of debris onto windshields, impairing visibility. During windstorms, large branches and wires can become downed, also contributing to severe motor vehicle accidents. In many cases, maintenance teams cannot clean up debris until hours after the storm, leaving dangerous debris in the middle of the road.
Motor Vehicle Accidents Involving Snow and Ice
A snowstorm doesn’t need to be severe to contribute to bad weather accidents in New York. Even though it regularly snows here, some New York drivers do not have the experience to drive safely in snowy conditions. Some drivers may choose to drive in hazardous conditions when they should have stayed at home or slowed their speed down significantly to prevent a motor vehicle accident. Any amount of snow that accumulates can interfere with a motor vehicle’s traction, a vehicle’s performance, and a driver’s visibility. Snow can also cover traffic signs and road markers, making it easier for a driver to slide into another driver’s lane and cause an accident.
Ice on the road is also dangerous. Ice can arrive during a hailstorm as part of a summer thunderstorm or as sleet or black ice in a winter storm. Icy roads can make it difficult for drivers to see. It can also make the roads slippery. Inexperienced drivers may overcorrect when they slide on icy roads, causing their vehicle to collide with multiple vehicles or to roll over. Chunks of ice can also fly off of one vehicle and crash through another driver’s windshield, which can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and collide with another vehicle or object. Even on relatively clear days, “black ice” can remain on the road, making it difficult for drivers to turn safely.
Proving Liability in a Bad Weather Accident
When there are dangerous weather conditions, it’s always important for drivers to remain alert. Unfortunately, not all drivers alter their driving habits accordingly. Too many New York drivers don’t use reasonable caution in bad weather conditions. Drivers cannot control the weather in New York, but they can control how they react to bad weather. Victims of car accidents seeking compensation for their injuries will need to prove that the at-fault driver’s negligence or recklessness caused the accident that resulted in their injuries.
All New York drivers owe other drivers and pedestrians a duty to drive reasonably under the circumstances. Drivers must drive as a reasonable person would during similar bad weather conditions. In a dangerous snowstorm, reasonable drivers reduce their speed and eliminate any distractions so they can focus on the road and avoid a bad weather accident. When a snowstorm becomes extremely dangerous and limits a driver’s visibility, a reasonable driver will put on their hazard lights and slow down. When drivers fail to use reasonable caution during dangerous snow, sleet, wind, or ice, they are liable for any injuries that result from their negligence.
Recovering Compensation for Your Injuries in a Bad Weather Accident
Successful personal injury plaintiffs are entitled to economic and non-economic damages. Attorney Michael J. Redenburg will advocate for you so you will have the best chance possible of receiving the maximum compensation available to you by law. Economic damages include easily quantifiable damages related to the car accident, such as:
- Medical bills
- The loss of future income
- The cost of physical therapy
- The cost of durable medical equipment
- Any other expenses related to the car accident.
Successful plaintiffs are also entitled to non-economic damages. Non-economic damages include compensation for physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering. Additionally, when a person’s loved one dies in a bad weather accident, the surviving family members can bring a wrongful death lawsuit and recover funeral expenses, compensation for the loss of their loved one’s income, and their pain and suffering.
Contact a New York City Bad Weather Accident Lawyer Today
If you or your loved one have suffered an injury in a bad weather accident, it’s essential that you speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Contact Michael J. Redenburg today to schedule your initial consultation.