Who’s At Fault in An Accident Caused by Ice and Snow?

As we’re witnessing right now, ice, sleet, and snow sometimes wreak havoc on roads and highways throughout North Texas. Unfortunately, when the weather turns bad, accidents happen, and because many drivers in Dallas are unfamiliar with operating motor vehicles in treacherous conditions, accidents occur. When an accident happens because of poor weather, you may still be entitled to receive compensation if you’re injured in a car wreck.

When you’re involved in an accident, you need the experience of a skilled Dallas personal injury lawyer on your side. The Law Office of Brian Brunson can help you get the compensation you deserve. Our attorneys will deal directly with the insurance companies to ensure you get the money you deserve for vehicle repairs, property damage, medical bills, and lost wages.

Determining Fault Due to Poor Road Conditions

Texas Transportation Code §545.351 requires that motor vehicle operators adapt their driving to accommodate poor road conditions. This means that if they fail to lower their speed below the posted speed limit, they can be held liable for an accident, even if the root cause of the accident was an icy road. If you’re involved in a car accident on an icy road, make sure you collect any and all evidence you can to corroborate your side of the story. Be sure to take pictures of the vehicle involved, as well as the roads and surrounding conditions. Most importantly, call the police and get a police report!

If poor road conditions contribute to your vehicle wreck, there may also be other parties, other than the another driver who is responsible for paying for your injuries and/or damages. In accordance with Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §107, you can file a lawsuit against the government for damages in certain situations. These situations may include when a motor vehicle wreck is caused by a government employee during the course of their work duties.

What To Do After an Accident

The very first thing you need to do when involved in a car accident is contact your insurance company and inform them of the incident. However, do not disclose any information beyond the details of the crash, such as time, location, etc. Next, contact us. We will deal with the insurance company from that point forward. The sooner we take on your case, the faster we can get you the compensation you need and deserve.

Oftentimes, we can negotiate a settlement for your claim without going to court. To try and resolve matters outside of a court of law, insurance companies may try and get an accident victim to attend arbitration. This is not always a bad thing, but we still highly suggest you contact the Law Office of Brian Brunson before agreeing to arbitration, because the arbitrator could rule against your claim.

Some claims cannot be resolved outside of court and therefore must go to trial. If the insurance company or other party does not agree to the amount of compensation your attorney feels you are due, the case must go to court and be heard by a judge. The trial process is lengthy and requires the experience of a skilled personal injury attorney, such as Brian Brunson.

If you unfortunately find yourself involved in a car accident due to icy road conditions, or for any other reason, contact us today for a free consultation.