With Winter in full swing, we have already seen some heavy snow in East Tennesee, and there are sure to be more low temperatures to come before Spring breaks through the cold! That means it is important for drivers to stay vigilant about the potentially dangerous driving conditions. Treacherous weather conditions always bring an increase in the number of car and truck accidents. If you have been involved in an accident caused by dangerous driving conditions, you may need to work with a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville to pursue compensation for your injuries.

What Sort of Weather Conditions Spell Trouble?

Snow is one of the most dangerous situations on the road, as conditions can change dramatically in a very short period of time. While snow is the most obvious culprit when it comes to dangerous road conditions, it is not the only weather you need to be more vigilant of when it comes to avoiding accidents. Some other weather conditions that could result in you needing the services of a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville include the following:

  • Ice or Freezing Rain
  • Heavy Rain
  • Strong Winds
  • Fog & Mist

Any of these conditions, either on their own or in combination with each other, can result in reduced visibility, difficult handling, and increased stopping distances. If you or other road users are not adjusting your speed and driving style to accommodate potentially hazardous weather conditions, the chances of being involved in an accident will increase dramatically, leaving you in need of a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville to help you file a lawsuit to recover damages for your injuries or property damage.

Weather Is Not An Acceptable Defense!

Poor weather conditions may increase the likelihood of an accident on the roads, but even when weather is a contributing factor in causing the accident, it will not absolve drivers of fault! We’ve all heard excuses like ‘I tried to stop, but the road was so icy’ or ‘I didn’t see the oncoming vehicle because of the heavy rain on the windshield .’Those things might be accurate, but when a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville lays out evidence to prove who was at fault in the accident, they won’t be accepted as a defense! Bad weather does not remove the duty of care and legal responsibility that every driver has to drive safely. When you look closely at these excuses, it is almost always the case that steps could have been taken to avoid the accident by adjusting to the weather conditions. For example, if the road is slick or icy, reducing your speed or leaving more space for the vehicle in front is going to help you keep control and stop easier when a hazard is thrown in your path. Even if you are driving the posted speed limit, if you haven’t made adjustments to allow for bad weather, you will be found at fault when an accident happens.

The bottom line is that if dangerous weather conditions like ice, snow, or heavy rain require drivers to take additional care and reduce their speed, and they fail to do so, they are behaving negligently and may be held liable for injuries or property damage caused as a result. A personal injury lawyer in Knoxville will examine evidence from the scene, witness statements, and police reports to put together evidence showing which party is responsible for causing the accident. Tennessee is a shared fault state, so it could be that both drivers have done something wrong. The key is determining if one of them is liable for more than 51% of the fault.

Prepare Yourself For Bad Driving Conditions

When looking at the car accidents caused in part by bad weather, a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville will see the same causes repeatedly. You can reduce your risk of weather-related car accidents by preparing yourself to drive in unfavorable conditions. Here are a few tips to help protect yourself and other road users:

  • Defensive Driving - When weather conditions take a turn for the worse, make sure you stay alert to the other road users around you. Look out for drivers who are going too fast, following too close, or driving aggressively. Keep your distance wherever possible and be prepared to react if a problem arises.
  • Stay Focused - When lousy weather reduces your visibility and alters the road surface, staying focused on your driving is important. Keep both hands on the steering wheel and your eyes on the road—no fiddling with the stereo or using your mobile phone. You need to place your full attention on the road.
  • Give Each Other Space - The more distance you leave between you and the vehicle in front, the more time you have to avoid an accident. Give other road users plenty of space when driving in potentially dangerous weather conditions.
  • Don’t Neglect Vehicle Maintenance - It is good practice to do some vehicle maintenance before Winter rolls in, but if you didn’t get around to it there is still time. Check your tire treads, headlights, brake lights, windshield washers, and defrosters to make sure everything is in good working order. It’s also an excellent time to ensure your emergency kit is stocked.
  • Pull Over If You Need To - One of the most important things you can do to avoid an accident in poor weather conditions is to pull over if needed. If you feel unsafe at any time, it is best to pull over somewhere and wait for conditions to improve.

Hopefully, these tips will help you avoid an accident during nasty weather conditions, but if you are involved in an accident, reach out to a personal injury lawyer in Knoxville to help pursue a lawsuit and recover any compensation you might be entitled to.

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Butler, Vines and Babb is a leading law firm in Knoxville, TN, with extensive litigation experience in Medical Malpractice Law, Birth Injury Law, Trucking Accident Law, Personal Injury Law, and Business Law. Contact us today at www.bvblaw.com or call 865-637-3531.

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