Bad weather can make driving conditions less predictable by reducing visibility or traction. When car accidents involving bad weather in Allentown cause injuries, the weather itself is not necessarily responsible; drivers must still adjust their driving to the conditions. An experienced car accident attorney could review the circumstances of the collision and determine whether another driver failed to take reasonable precautions.
Evidence can also change quickly after a weather-related crash. Road surfaces may dry, snow may melt, and towing companies or vehicle owners may move the vehicles before investigators have fully documented the scene. At Soloff & Zervanos, P.C., we could help preserve records that explain how the collision happened and handle insurer communications while you focus on your recovery.
Pennsylvania law requires motorists to drive at a speed that is reasonable and prudent under existing conditions and hazards. Under 75 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes § 3361, drivers must also maintain enough control to stop within the assured clear distance ahead. As a result, following the posted speed limit does not necessarily mean a driver acted reasonably on wet, icy, or snow-covered roads.
Adverse weather may require drivers to slow down, leave more space between vehicles, and account for reduced traction or visibility. A motorist who ignores those conditions may still be responsible even when rain, snow, or ice contributed to the crash. Our attorneys in Allentown could examine whether a driver failed to adjust their driving to inclement weather conditions before a motor vehicle collision.
Weather conditions often change quickly after a collision. Rain may stop, snow can melt, and road crews may salt or clear surfaces before anyone fully documents the conditions at the time of the crash. For this reason, photographs and videos taken soon afterward can be particularly useful.
Other records may help to establish what happened, including:
Records from an automobile crash in Allentown could help document the adverse weather and roadway conditions surrounding the accident. We could work to preserve available records and organize them into a clear account of the conditions surrounding the collision.
Pennsylvania law allows multiple people to share responsibility for an accident. Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 7102, an injured person may recover damages when their negligence is not greater than the causal negligence of the defendant or defendants. The injured person’s share of fault reduces the amount they may recover.
This rule can become important when an insurer argues that both drivers contributed to a weather-related collision. The insurer may claim that you should have reacted differently to deteriorating road conditions or could have avoided the impact. An attorney should evaluate those arguments against the facts rather than accept them without further examination.
When a vehicle crash in Allentown occurs during inclement weather, our lawyers could assess each party’s responsibility and respond to unsupported efforts to assign fault to you. A careful analysis of each driver’s conduct may affect both your ability to recover compensation and the amount available to you under state law.
Bad weather can complicate a claim, but it does not eliminate a driver’s duty to operate safely. Careful investigation could help distinguish unavoidable conditions from driver conduct that contributed to car accidents involving bad weather in Allentown.
Call our team at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. for a no-cost consultation. We could evaluate the evidence, address insurer requests, document your losses, and explain the legal options available to you.
