Snow, ice, and other winter weather conditions make driving more difficult for everyone on the road, but they can be especially hazardous for semi-truck drivers, whose vehicles are more challenging to control even under ideal conditions. Truck accidents are a common occurrence in the winter, and they may come about due to a variety of causes and contributing factors. If you are injured in a winter truck accident, you should work with an attorney to identify any negligence that can be used to support your claim for compensation.
What Factors Contribute to Winter Truck Crashes?
Of course, the weather itself is often a contributing factor in winter accidents, as it may reduce visibility and traction on the road surface. However, for the purposes of pursuing a personal injury claim, it is important to demonstrate that a truck driver or another party was responsible for the accident due to a failure to reasonably account for the weather conditions and ensure the vehicle’s safe operation.
In some cases, winter truck accidents are caused by the truck driver’s negligence. For example, a driver could be traveling at a speed that is unsafe for the road conditions, or they could attempt a turn or lane change without considering the slippery road surface. If the driver loses control of their vehicle, and another person is injured, the driver may be liable for those injuries.
Accidents can also happen if the truck is not properly equipped for the weather. Worn brakes and tires with insufficient tread can hinder the driver’s control of the truck and make it more difficult to avoid a collision. Faulty defrosters or windshield wipers can result in severely impaired visibility that prevents the driver from being safely aware of the surroundings. Weather conditions can change quickly, sometimes in the middle of a long trucking route, and truck drivers may need to make an important judgment call to get off the road until it is safe to drive again.
Evidence For Your Personal Injury Claim
If you are injured in a truck crash, it is important to notify law enforcement and hire an attorney as soon as possible so that you can begin building your case for compensation. Photographs of the scene can help to document the weather conditions and signs of improper truck maintenance that may have contributed to the accident, and police reports help to create a record of the immediate aftermath of the crash. Your attorney can then help you gather other evidence, which may include video footage, witness testimony, recordings of 911 calls, and trucking company records.
Contact an Appleton Truck Accident Attorney
This time of year poses a heightened risk for Wisconsin drivers, and at the Herrling Clark Law Firm Ltd., we can help those who are injured in an accident related to winter conditions. For a free consultation on your case, contact an experienced Green Bay personal injury lawyer today at 920-739-7366.
Sources:
https://www.nhtsa.gov/winter-driving-safety
https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/safety/education/winter-drv/default.aspx