Winter weather, spring rain and summer thunderstorms can all affect traffic safety. Precipitation can make the pavement slippery, making it harder to stop or slow down. Heavy winds can reduce control over vehicles. Cloud cover and precipitation can impact visibility, making it harder to monitor the road ahead.
Crashes during storms are common. Drivers who lose control due to wet pavement or visibility issues might try to blame the weather for the crash that they caused. They may insist they are not at fault because the weather made driving unsafe.
Technically, precipitation and wind can increase the possibility of a crash. However, they do not necessarily absolve motorists of responsibility after a wreck occurs. Drivers who cause collisions due to poor weather conditions are often liable for the consequences that other people face because of the crashes they cause.
Drivers should adjust their conduct based on the weather
State traffic authorities provide clear instructions about how motorists can prioritize safety during times of inclement weather. Typically, staying off the road during storms is the safest, but some people must drive anyway. When the roads are slick and visibility is poor, drivers generally need to slow down, maneuver more carefully and increase their following distance.
The same general rules apply regardless of whether drivers are on the road during a summer thunderstorm or a midwinter blizzard. Motorists who fail to adjust their habits are negligent and may be responsible for any harm they cause others due to their unsafe choices.
Motorists who ignore changing weather conditions are often responsible when their unsafe decisions harm others. Documenting the details of an injurious car crash caused by winter weather or streets slick with rain can help people hold other drivers accountable.