Who is at Fault for Accidents Caused by Weather in Massachusetts?

Being involved in a crash caused by someone else’s traffic violations or unsafe driving is frustrating, but at least you may know who to blame. When it comes to accidents caused by inclement weather, getting compensation be more daunting if you don’t who was at fault for the crash.

In many accident cases involving inclement weather, there is still a particular driver who was at fault. Often, crashes are caused by drivers who fail to adjust their driving to rain or snow and continue to speed or violate other traffic laws instead of being more cautious during bad weather. In some cases, the accident is unavoidable and there is no one to blame, but victims could still be entitled to compensation through their personal injury protection insurance. Our attorneys can investigate complex accidents involving environmental factors to maximize victims’ financial recoveries.

For a free review of your car accident case, call the Massachusetts personal injury lawyers at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407.

Do Rain or Snow Affect Car Accident Liability in Massachusetts?

Rain and snow cause some of the most concerning weather hazards for drivers in Massachusetts, especially during the winter months. Exercising reasonable caution at all times while driving is crucial, but drivers should take extra care when the weather presents additional risks.

After accidents in poor weather, hurt drivers might assume the crash happened because of the bad conditions. At-fault drivers might attempt to use rain, snow, or ice on the road as an excuse for their negligent behavior, and victims might accept that at face value. In reality, poor weather can exacerbate already reckless driving behavior, increasing the risk that negligent drivers cause accidents. For example, speeding is always dangerous, but even more so when the road is icy, as there’s a greater risk of drivers losing control of their vehicles and hitting others.

Because of the climate, Massachusetts drivers typically have experience driving in some rain and snow. However, it is always important consider one’s skills, experience, and vehicle condition when driving in bad weather. Going out on the road in severe rain or snow can be dangerous, especially if roads have not been properly treated for the conditions or snowplows haven’t come through yet.

Negligent drivers might attempt to use weather conditions like excessive rain or snow to evade full liability for victims’ damages. In these situations, our lawyers would likely involve accident reconstruction experts to recreate the road and visibility conditions, according to the police report. Reconstruction experts can consider all contributing factors when determining cause and assess the at-fault driver’s conduct based on impact points, tire marks, and other evidence. When the weather is poor, drivers should adjust their conduct to protect themselves and others, and failing to do so could make them fully liable for victims’ damages, regardless of how badly it is raining or snowing.

Who Could Be at Fault for Accidents Caused by Bad Weather in Massachusetts?

While bad rain or snowstorms can make driving more dangerous, it’s not an excuse to speed, drive under the influence, or engage in any other reckless behavior or traffic violations. For example, suppose a driver commits a traffic violation in bad weather. In that case, our lawyers can apply fault like we would if the accident happened during good weather, as the driver was negligent regardless. That said, driving during bad weather typically requires drivers to exercise more care to keep themselves and others safe. Failing to adjust to the conditions at hand could actually make someone at fault for a bad-weather car crash, even if they were doing something that would have been fine in better weather.

Multi-Vehicle Accidents

If you were hit while driving in bad weather, our lawyers will first look for traffic violations and dangerous driving habits to show the other driver is at fault. Often, drivers will do unsafe things during bad weather that would have also been reckless in good weather, like speeding, driving drunk, texting and driving, or rolling through stop signs and red lights. If a driver commits a traffic violation and causes a crash, the fact that the weather was bad might not play into your case at all.

In other situations, the at-fault driver’s actions would have been fine during better weather, but the bad weather makes them negligent. For example, our Danvers car accident lawyers can point to posted speed limits for an area to prove a driver was illegally speeding. In addition to dictating speed limits in good weather, Massachusetts requires drivers to slow for special hazards or if the weather or road conditions require it. If the driver’s speed exceeded what is “reasonable and proper,” our lawyers may use that against them, even if they were still under the posted speed limit.

Often, drivers need to reduce speed to avoid slipping on snowy or icy roads. Even in strong wind, maintaining a high speed could be dangerous, as vehicles might sway or blow to the sides. Because of the risk of hydroplaning, accidents caused by negligent drivers in poor weather could involve multiple other vehicles, injuring many victims.

Our lawyers will consider all factors when assessing an at-fault driver’s conduct during bad weather. For example, a car with four-wheel drive capabilities, antilock brakes, and all-weather tires might be better at stopping and turning in the snow than a rear-wheel drive car with worn-out tires. Details like this might factor into a court’s decision about what is “reasonable” in your case. If the court finds that you were also being unsafe, whether due to your driving or your vehicle’s current condition, that could make you partially at fault for the crash, and our attorneys can prepare cases against comparative fault arguments.

Single-Vehicle Accidents

Many accidents during snowy or rainy periods are single-vehicle accidents. A car turning around a corner might slip on ice and hydroplane into a fixed object, leaving the driver unsure who could be at fault. While victims typically turn to their personal injury protection insurance in these circumstances, further investigation into the vehicle’s efficacy may be necessary. Though poor weather might seem like the cause of a single-vehicle accident, the rain or snow might have just exposed an internal issue with your vehicle’s braking system or steerage that you were previously unaware of.

Injured drivers may have claims against car manufacturers when this happens, which we can help prepare and file in Massachusetts. Preserving the damaged car is always important, particularly if we need vehicular experts to review it for evidence of a relevant defect.

Can You Get Compensation for a Bad Weather Car Accident in Massachusetts if No One is at Fault?

Sometimes, the weather gets bad fast, and it seems impossible to react. If your crash seems solely caused by dangerous weather and as though no one could have prevented the crash, you should still contact our lawyers to investigate further. Even if there is no one to sue, Massachusetts is a no-fault insurance state, so your insurance should still be able to cover some of your damages.

Although your recovery might not be as great as if you could sue the at-fault driver for damages, you could still get at least partial compensation for your injuries from your personal injury protection insurance. When you talk to our Boston car accident lawyers about filing a no-fault claim for bad weather crashes, we can review the details of your collision to determine if someone could be at fault. Though excessive rain or snowstorms could seem like the main or only reason for the accident, talking to witnesses, reviewing the police report, and involving experts could uncover a cause of action. This is important, especially for seriously injured drivers, as it could open the door to greater damages in a lawsuit, like compensation for pain and suffering.

When bad weather worsens the outcome of negligent conduct, you may be entitled to damages. Regardless of your anticipated recovery method, immediately contacting our attorneys is important so that we can obtain relevant evidence and information, such as the police report, eyewitness statements, and photos from the scene before it is lost.

Call Our Massachusetts Car Accident Attorneys for Help Today

Call our Cambridge car accident lawyers at the Law Office of John J. Sheehan to discuss your case for free at (617) 925-6407.