The climate in East Hartford is such that, especially in the winter, roads freeze and re-freeze with a possibility of water pooling. Roads can become an icy mess at night, and poorly lit areas are especially susceptible to accidents.
If you have been involved in an East Hartford car accident involving bad weather, you could be eligible for compensation. The East Hartford car accident lawyers could help you pursue your legal options and get the payments you need to make things right.
Preventing Weather-Related Accidents in East Hartford
To protect themselves from bad weather collisions, drivers should make sure their vehicle is in good working order, make sure their headlights are on and working, that they have windshield-wiper fluid, and wiper blades are not cracked. They should also make sure their tires are in good shape, possibly consider snow tires, and perhaps the biggest thing of all can be to stay off roads if at all possible and not make unnecessary trips during emergencies.
Motorists should also understand that all-wheel-drive vehicles may help gain traction but will not help them stop a vehicle, so they should not get too overconfident operating one and drive too fast for the conditions. Drivers should also drive slowly when conditions are poor.
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Anticipating Poor Weather Conditions
The best way to avoid an inclement weather accident is to avoid driving in bad weather altogether. However, this is not always feasible, so drivers should be aware of warning signs of bad weather so that they can take steps to reduce their risk of a crash.
Many cars are equipped with thermometers that gauge the outside temperature, so drivers know when it nears or reaches 32 degrees. It is also sometimes possible to see ice at night based on the reflection of the glare of headlights shining on the road. Motorists should be cognizant of whether there is snow on the ground, if temperatures are dropping, or if there has been some recent rain and falling temperatures. Generally speaking, East Hartford drivers should use all their senses, combined with technology and some basic awareness of the weather, and check local weather stations to minimize their chances of being involved in an inclement weather accident.
Steps to Take After an Inclement Weather Accident
When bad weather crashes do occur, drivers should be sure to take the necessary steps to minimize injury. The very first initial steps that somebody should take when involved in an accident triggered by severe conditions are to make sure they are safe and to seek appropriate medical care. If they are hurt, drivers need to inform their doctor that they did not have pain before the accident and follow up if they have persistent pain. These steps are crucial because insurers in car accident cases may try to allege that the injured party was hurt before the crash or that they did not seek appropriate care.
Often, people may go to emergency rooms, get X-rays, and find that nothing is broken, yet they may still be in significant pain. If their pain lasts more than a few days, they should get things checked out. Allowing pain to linger not only puts one’s health at risk, but also hurts their chances at a successful injury claim. It is also essential to get in touch with an East Hartford bad weather accident attorney as soon as possible after a crash to move forward with a potential claim for compensation.
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Pursuing Compensation for a Bad Weather Crash
Following a dangerous-weather accident, an injured party could be able to recover what are known as economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are damages for things such as medical bills, lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, and other tangible losses. Non-economic damages are things such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and injuries that do not necessarily have a receipt attached to them.
In order to make a claim for compensation after an inclement weather crash, an attorney can meet with the driver, talk to them, understand the circumstances of their accident, begin investigating, obtain the police report, and counsel them about the impact of weather, on their case. Weather could be a factor because it could be the fault of the driver who strikes them; on the grounds they should have been going slower than they would if the weather was clear or they should have given more distance to stop than they would if the weather was clear. If bad weather is an issue in the car accident case, an East Hartford lawyer can employ meteorologists who can tell them the specific weather condition at the time of the accident.
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Discuss East Hartford Car Accidents Involving Poor Weather with an Attorney
Driving in the winter can be incredibly dangerous. Crashes involving ice or snow can lead to severe and costly injuries. If you or a loved one is suffering after an East Hartford car accident involving bad weather, you do not have to face the battle of obtaining compensation on your own. A dedicated lawyer could help you understand your options and work with you to get the payments you need to move forward. Call our office today to get started.
