How Does Winter Weather Cause Truck Accidents?

How Does Winter Weather Cause Truck Accidents?

Winter weather poses serious challenges for any vehicle, primarily due to decreased traction on icy surfaces and poor visibility. Winter weather causes truck accidents for reasons and factors that are unique to trucks and truck driving—namely, the significant size and weight of commercial trucks.

If you were injured due to a truck driver’s negligence, we could help you seek several forms of possible compensation. This could include recovery for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, vehicle damage, and more.

Truck Accidents on Slick Road Surfaces Can Be Especially Serious

During winter weather, any vehicle may experience poorer traction when attempting to navigate on snow, ice, or other winter road conditions. According to AAA, decreased vehicle traction can often translate into poorer braking, turning, and accelerating performance.

Trucks are already more challenging to control than many passenger vehicles due to their size, weight, and longer stopping distances. With the added challenges of winter driving conditions, it can be especially difficult to safely operate a truck in the face of ice and snow.

Consider the following:

  • According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the average truck’s stopping distance is 20-40% greater than that of a passenger car—and that stopping distance concern is only worsened when a road is wet or slippery.
  • Trucks can weigh 20 to 30 times more than a normal car, which can lead to especially devastating forces and damage in the event of an accident.

With this understanding of a truck’s dangers during winter weather, all drivers—especially truck drivers—should take precautions during adverse conditions.

Adverse Conditions Call for Safe Driving Strategies

Truck drivers should be expected to follow safety procedures before and while driving on the roads during winter weather.

AAA notes that the following are important safety practices for winter drivers:

  • Vehicle maintenance. Because stopping distances are greater for any vehicle on wet and icy roads, drivers should maintain brakes and tires in good working order.
  • Operational safety. While driving in adverse conditions, drivers should reduce their speed and provide for a much greater stopping distance. According to AAA, drivers require double the distance needed to stop on icy roads at 0 degrees compared to roads at 32 degrees.
  • Driver alertness. Winter driving calls for alert drivers. When drivers are fatigued, they may not be able to practice safe strategies or appropriately react to hazards.

We Can Help You Seek Compensation After a Winter Truck Accident

An accident with a truck driver on snowy, icy roads can lead to devastating vehicle damage and injuries. If you were the victim of an accident with a truck driver who failed to drive safely during winter weather, you could seek compensation for your injuries.

You could seek compensation for:

  • Medical costs. A truck accident could leave your physical health in disarray. If you required ER care, surgeries, medications, ongoing physical therapy, medical devices, and other health care costs, we could include this in your case value.
  • Lost wages. This could reflect both past and future lost earnings due to your injuries.
  • Pain and suffering. If an accident left you with serious physical and emotional suffering, we could seek compensation that reflects your hardships.

Typically, if you had more severe injuries and losses, your potential case value may be higher. However, even seemingly minor injuries could require ongoing therapy and involve lost income. We can determine what your case is worth and pursue a fair amount through an insurance claim or lawsuit.

Liability in Truck Accident Cases

A truck driver could be liable for your costs, or a trucking company may have to pay you. These accidents can be complicated, as their company’s insurance may cover truck drivers who work as employees. Don’t worry. We can sort this out for you.

Potential parties who could be liable for a truck accident include:

  • The truck driver
  • The trucking company
  • A cargo loading company
  • A parts manufacturer or vehicle manufacturer
  • And more

We can help you determine who may have been liable for your accident—and seek fair compensation for your losses.

Call Sevenish Law Firm, P.C. for Free and Get Started Today

We can handle every step of an insurance claim or lawsuit on your behalf. What’s more, we can get started on your case for free with your first call today.

Speak with someone from Sevenish Law Firm, P.C. to learn how winter weather causes truck accidents and how we can work for the best possible outcome for you. Call us today at 317-720-3229.

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