Motor vehicle collisions of any kind can cause severe damage. However, the effects can be traumatic when a crash occurs because of unfavorable weather conditions. If you were hurt in a car crash due to bad weather, you might face expensive medical bills, lost income, and the long-term effects of your pain and suffering.
With the help of a hardworking car crash attorney at Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz & Bhaya, you could receive compensation from the negligent party that caused your crash and injuries. In addition, a lawyer can gather evidence related to a bad weather car accident in Elsmere and help you prove that another person’s recklessness led to your injuries.
What Causes Bad Weather Wrecks in Elsmere?
There are several instances when bad weather might cause a severe crash. In most cases, these collisions are avoidable. However, negligent motorists often drive too quickly for weather conditions. Common weather conditions that lead to wrecks when negligent drivers speed include:
- Fog or weather that causes low visibility
- Icy roads, including bridges that often form black ice
- Rainstorms or snowstorms, especially when the road is not visible
If motorists drive cautiously in these conditions, they are unlikely to cause a collision. However, drivers often hurry to their destination and fail to uphold a duty of care to other motorists on the road. A local attorney can help a plaintiff identify the cause of an unfavorable weather car crash and hold the responsible party accountable for their careless actions.
What Damages Can a Person Recover After a Bad Weather Collision?
After a weather-related crash, an at-fault party may be required to make payments to an injured driver. There are several aspects of vehicle collision injuries that can become costly. For example, an injured victim can collect economic damages from negligent drivers. Economic damages repay for losses that courts can value, like medical bills for emergency room visits, follow-up appointments, and rehabilitation. In addition, economic damages may also include any income lost while an injured person had to take time off work.
Courts through jury trials may also award non-economic damages to a plaintiff, such as pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life. Often, a collision caused by unfavorable weather conditions might cause a person to be unable to perform leisure activities they once enjoyed. However, non-economic damages will account for these losses and any future losses expected to stem from crash-related injuries.
In rare cases, a plaintiff may be awarded punitive damages to punish a defendant for reckless behavior. A lawyer in Elsmere will evaluate an injured person’s losses resulting from a dangerous weather crash and demand the appropriate compensation to help them pay for their damages.
What Evidence Can be Used in a Weather-Related Crash Claim?
Generally, a plaintiff could use several pieces of evidence to prove that inclement weather caused a collision. For example, on a police report, a police officer in Elsmere can note the weather conditions at the time of a crash, which is crucial because a police officer is an independent witness who has no bias towards any involved parties. Instead, they are simply recording their observation of the weather.
In addition, a legal representative might obtain a certified weather report from a company that tracks local weather conditions. These services have weather monitoring stations throughout the country, and often, their location is within 15 miles of the crash scene. For example, a weather report might state that conditions at the time of a collision were windy, rainy, snowy, icy, or below freezing.
Other evidence could be an EMS report that mentions any difficulties they had getting to and from a scene. For instance, if a roadway is icy, they will mention that in the report. A diligent attorney can use their resources to quickly obtain these reports and build a strong case on an injured person’s behalf.
Get in Touch with an Attorney About a Bad Weather Car Accident in Elsmere
After a weather-related collision, you should not worry about paying for your medical bills and injury-related costs. Instead, you should focus on healing from your injuries.
A knowledgeable lawyer can help you recover monetary damages after a bad weather accident in Elsmere. A legal representative will fight for you in court and get the case outcome you deserve. Call today to learn more.
