Blustery winter weather is standard in Wisconsin most years. Businesses and municipalities generally have procedures in place for inclement winter weather response.
Employees may still need to get to work despite snow and ice on the roads, and parents may need to take their children to school or pick them up after class. Those who must be out on the road during or immediately after winter storms are at increased risk of a collision occurring.
Some people claim that winter weather crashes do not lead to allocations of fault against either driver. Is it true that bad weather limits culpability for causing a crash?
Drivers have to account for the weather
Winter weather is a predictable seasonal issue. Every driver living in or passing through Wisconsin can easily access information about how snowstorms, sleet and heavy wind affect traffic safety. They can adjust their conduct in traffic to reduce their likelihood of causing a crash by slowing down and increasing their following distance.
They can also refresh themselves on how to handle sliding on ice to minimize their risk of causing a crash if they lose control of their vehicle. When drivers pretend that the weather isn’t a risk factor and maintain high speeds and inappropriate following distances, they may be at fault for any collisions that occur.
Documenting the conduct of other motorists and preserving information about the scene of the crash can be important for those involved in winter weather car crashes. Those hoping to hold another driver accountable through litigation or insurance negotiations may need help building a case and calculating their total losses, and that’s okay.