No one ever wants to be involved in an accident. Even putting aside the potential for harm, taking care of the legal aspects of the crash is a headache. If the crash was caused by ice on the road, then it may be even more complicated. You are probably wondering how the law handles accidents caused by ice, especially if you were recently in this type of accident. Take a look at this guide to learn everything you need to know.
Accidents Caused by Ice
You may be surprised to hear that the involvement of ice rare changes anything about the fault of an accident. Even if ice caused a driver to crash, the driver is almost certainly still completely at fault. Drivers have a responsibility to drive safely, and the weather does not change that responsibility. You need to be able to recognize unsafe driving conditions and avoid them.
There is only one situation where fault may be removed from the driver due to ice. If the road was not maintained properly, then the party responsible for maintaining the road may become liable. For example, if water does not drain properly and leaks out onto a road and then freezes, this may be seen as a violation of maintenance duties. A car accident lawyer will be able to tell you whether there is any potential for the blame to shift off of you or the other driver.
How To Avoid an Accident
The best way to avoid being held liable for an accident caused by ice is to prevent the accident in the first place. Always follow these tips to drive safely in cold weather:
- Learn what ice on the road looks like and always be on the lookout for it.
- Drive slower than you normally would.
- Always drive with your headlights turned on to improve visibility.
- Leave a bigger gap between you and the driver in front of you.
- Maintain your tires vigilantly. If your tires are worn down or bald, either replace them immediately or do not drive.
- Never drive with cruise control turned on.
- Maintain your entire vehicle. The presence of ice may magnify the problems caused by another part malfunctioning.
It may feel unfair to be held accountable if you only crashed due to ice on the road, but that is how the law handles the situation. Always drive safely and do everything you can to protect yourself and other drivers.