New Yorkers are familiar with inclement weather, including rain, fog, sleet, and snow. Further, they know that driving conditions change when the weather gets bad, and extra caution is required to avoid accidents.
If you have suffered injuries in a New York car crash with a motorist who failed to exercise that extra caution, the personal injury lawyers at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green, and Bagley could help you recover compensation for your losses. We have represented injured NYC car accident victims for over 50 years and have extensive knowledge of how weather conditions impact car accidents and liability for damages. Schedule a free consultation today.
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How do weather conditions have an impact on driving in New York?
Data collected by highway authorities shows an objective connection between bad weather and car accidents. Consider the following :
- Reduced visibility from fog, snow, and rain causes more than 38,700 vehicle accidents across the U.S. annually, including more than 600 deaths and over 16,000 injuries.
- One study has shown that at a speed of 20 miles per hour, vehicle braking distance increases from 17 feet on dry pavement to between 107 and 238 feet on ice.
- Defective vehicle brakes, broken headlamps, and poor windshield wipers further reduce vehicle performance and visibility in wet and snowy conditions.
A team of dedicated and trusted car accident lawyers in New York City will always analyze how weather conditions contributed to an accident and whether a negligent driver failed to adjust their driving to compensate for prevailing conditions.
Do weather conditions affect fault in a New York car accident?
Although New York is a no-fault car insurance state, fault remains a critical consideration when an injured driver seeks to recover damages for serious injuries or losses not covered by the driver’s PIP or no-fault auto liability policy. In all cases, a driver’s failure to adjust speed and vehicle operation in bad weather can be used as proof of negligence and as a basis for liability for an injured driver’s injuries.
If you are injured in a winter car accident, you should not assume that the weather conditions are an “Act of God” that will excuse a negligent driver from liability. Instead, call an NYC lawyer who understands the interplay between driver liability and weather conditions and can use the evidence of the weather and the accident to demonstrate the other driver’s negligence.
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What adjustments should a driver make in bad weather?
A driver can reduce the risks of car accidents on black ice and in other adverse weather situations by the following:
- Check if temperatures are below freezing and pose a risk of icy road conditions.
- Be extra careful on bridges and other road surfaces that ice over more quickly.
- Avoid sudden lane changes and braking.
- Drive below the posted speed limit.
- Factor in extra driving time to get to destinations.
Finally, watch for other roadway accidents and make regular adjustments as conditions worsen.
Call the winter car accident attorneys for a free consultation
Your best strategy to avoid a winter car accident is to avoid driving in bad weather conditions. Our team at Friedman, Levy, Goldfarb, Green, and Bagley knows this is often impossible or not practical. However, we encourage everyone to exercise extra caution when driving in rain, sleet, or snow.
We also encourage you to call our New York City offices for a free consultation if you have been injured in a car accident with a driver who did not exercise that caution. We could assess your case and determine if you have a valid claim for a more significant damages settlement or award than your liability insurer might initially offer to pay you. Since, we work on a contingency basis, there are no upfront legal fees. We look forward to hearing from you.
