Winter is coming—learn how snow, ice, and bad weather impact car accident liability. Contact The Hoffmann Law Firm Today for a Free Consultation
As winter approaches, we’re reminded of the challenges of driving in adverse weather conditions. Snow, ice, and heavy rain can turn even a short trip into a hazardous journey. These conditions make driving more dangerous and complicate car accident liability.
The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. is here to help if you’ve been involved in a weather-related car accident. Our experienced attorneys understand how to navigate these complex cases, ensuring you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let us guide you through the process.
Adverse weather conditions contribute to car accidents, often reducing visibility, traction, and driver reaction time. Common weather-related hazards include:
Snow and Ice
Slippery Roads: Ice and snow create slick surfaces, increasing the likelihood of losing control.
Reduced Braking Ability: Even with anti-lock brakes, stopping distances increase significantly on icy roads.
Black Ice: Invisible patches of ice make it challenging to anticipate hazardous areas.
Rain and Wet Roads
Hydroplaning: When tires lose contact with the road due to standing water, drivers can lose control.
Limited Visibility: Heavy rain reduces how far ahead drivers can see, making it harder to react to sudden stops or obstacles.
Fog
Poor Visibility: Thick fog limits sightlines, making it hard to judge distances or see other vehicles.
Disorientation: Fog can make staying in your lane or seeing road signs challenging.
High Winds
Vehicle Instability: Strong gusts can push vehicles, especially larger ones, off course.
Flying Debris: Wind can send objects like tree branches into the road, creating unexpected hazards.
How Weather Affects Car Accident Liability
Weather conditions do not excuse negligence. While they can play a role in accidents, liability typically falls on the drivers involved based on their actions. Here’s how weather can factor into determining fault:
Driver Responsibility in Poor Weather
Drivers are expected to adapt their behavior to the conditions. This includes:
Reducing speed to maintain control.
Leaving extra space between vehicles.
Using headlights to increase visibility.
Avoiding sudden braking or sharp turns that could cause skidding.
If a driver fails to take these precautions and causes an accident, they may still be found at fault, even if the weather is a contributing factor.
Multiple-Vehicle Collisions
Adverse weather often leads to chain-reaction crashes. Depending on their actions before the accident, multiple drivers may share liability.
Insurance Adjuster Evaluations
Insurance companies consider weather conditions when assessing claims. They’ll evaluate factors such as:
The speed of the vehicles involved.
The use of proper equipment, such as winter tires.
The presence of warning signs or road maintenance issues.
Municipal or Government Liability
Sometimes, liability may extend to a municipality or road maintenance authority. For example:
Failing to clear snow or ice from major roads.
Warning signs should not be placed near known hazardous areas like icy bridges.
Poor drainage leads to standing water or ice.
However, proving government liability can be challenging and often requires the assistance of an experienced attorney.
Winter Weather and Car Accidents: Preparing for the Season Ahead
With winter around the corner, now is the time to prepare for the challenges of colder weather. Here’s what you can do to minimize risk and protect yourself in the event of an accident:
Prepare Your Vehicle
Install Winter Tires: These provide better traction on snow and ice.
Check Your Battery: Cold weather can drain car batteries quickly.
Inspect Wipers and Fluids: Replace old wiper blades and keep your windshield washer fluid full.
Emergency Kit: Carry an emergency kit with essentials like blankets, a flashlight, and a shovel.
Adjust Your Driving Habits
Slow down in snowy or icy conditions.
Avoid sudden movements that could cause skidding.
Plan extra time for travel to avoid rushing.
Know Your Insurance Policy
Understand your coverage, especially in areas prone to severe winter weather.
Consider adding comprehensive coverage for weather-related damage.
Be Vigilant for Black Ice
Black ice is expected in shaded areas, bridges, and overpasses. Approach these spots cautiously, even if roads appear clear.
Stay Informed
Check weather forecasts before heading out.
Delay non-essential trips during severe weather.
What to Do If You’re in a Weather-Related Accident
Despite all precautions, accidents can still happen. Here’s what to do if you’re involved in a crash during bad weather:
Ensure Safety First
Move to a safe location, if possible.
Call emergency services if anyone is injured.
Document the Scene
Take photos of the accident, road conditions, and weather. This can be crucial evidence if liability is disputed.
Exchange Information
Collect contact and insurance details from the other driver(s).
Report to Your Insurance Company
Notify your insurer about the accident and provide all necessary documentation.
Consult a Car Accident Attorney
If liability is unclear or you’re facing challenges with your claim, an experienced attorney can help you navigate the process and protect your rights.
Contact us Today
As winter sets in, it’s essential to be prepared for the unique challenges that weather brings to driving and accident liability. While snow and ice may be beyond our control, how we respond to these conditions—both on the road and after an accident—can make all the difference.
The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. is here to help if you’ve been involved in a weather-related car accident. Our experienced attorneys understand how to navigate these complex cases, ensuring you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let us guide you through the process.
This legal professional has shown exceptional competence and dedication in their field. I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking legal representation that is committed to unwavering advocacy and support throughout the entirety of their case.
I would describe this lawyer as highly educated, sharp, and top of his game. Explains the car accident process and treatment options well. The lawyer said if they don’t pay you, we will have the jury take it from the insurance company. Great lawyer. Dynamic person.
Interviewed all the TV car accident lawyers and decided to call this law firm that had great reviews. So happy I did. What a difference!
Response from the owner: TV car accident lawyers are just mass production. This is not a good fit for litigated cases. Paralegals instead of lawyers. Monthly quotas for settlements. Car accident victims end up in a cattle call with the lawyers on TV.
Love my car accident lawyer. This law firm is a step above.
Response from the owner: Our lawyers train and track the best approaches on cases. Whether litigation in cases or the practicalities of certain treatment, the growth of our lawyers over time is paramount. Always staying ahead of and setting practice trends. Thank you.
Serious family member have a car accident injury? Look no further. This litigator is for real. Always two steps ahead of the other lawyer.
Response from the owner: This is a sad reality for car accident lawyers. The #1 passenger in an auto accident is a relative. Helping a family make it through this and putting the family back together is one of the most rewarding things I do as an automobile accident attorney.
This lawyer handles really big accident cases in St Louis. He is a lawyer, accountant and has his masters in tax so he gets the injury cases for individuals that can never go back to work or individuals own a business and cannot run it due to injury. He specializes in valuations of massive loss. Thank goodness a firm like this exists.
Response from the owner: Thank you. When accident are severe and you lose the ability to work or to continue a business, having an accounting and tax background is key. Valuing large losses are second nature for us.
Asked a trauma surgeon who operates on car accident victims who are the best injury lawyers that have taken his deposition. He said “by far” it was Mr Hoffmann. Interviewed several attorneys and this was a correct assessment. In a league of his own!
Response from the owner: Our attorney have deposed nearly all the trauma surgeons at every Level 1 Trauma Center in Saint Louis. These doctors save lives after a car accident. Whether controlling bleeding or reestablishing blood flow or bone structures, they are life savers.
Few lawyers in St. Louis can handle the biggest injury cases! This is one of them!
Response from the owner: Our law firm has made great efforts in terms of training to handle life changing injury cases. Whether in depth knowledge of the medical, loss of income and earning capacity, or lifetime medical care plans, our clients feel confident and know their case is in good hands. Thank you for the compliment.
Cannot say enough about this lawyer. Call if in an accident. This attorney handles the biggest car accidents in St Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks Ash! Our biggest source of cases is our clients. Our second biggest referral source is defense lawyers telling their relatives to call us. Few lawyers can handle the largest cases. Our law firm welcomes and has trained for this. We don’t do mass production settlement like the lawyers on TV. Our clients can never go back to work. Their cases need massive focus and effort and often long fought litigation.
So glad I called attorney Hoffmann. This time I got it right! So glad I hired the Hoffmann Law Firm - professional, reliable and available.
Response from the owner: Thanks Taylor. Our lawyers answer the phone day, night, weekends and even during lunch. Being professional means training to beat the best defense lawyers. Client rely on us to get results and we do.
Great lawyer. Cares about his clients, knows his stuff and goes the extra mile. I recommend this lawyer for car wreck injury claim. Every other lawyer on TV would not even help with my property claim. This attorney did.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words. Every case starts with a great client. You are correct the car accident lawyers on TV are mass production settlement mills. When injury clients fire them, we get their files and the cases are not worked up at all. Appreciate your confidence in us!
Major car accident injury in St Louis area for a family member. Four different lawyers we know said the same thing - call Chris Hoffmann. On another level.
Response from the owner: This is such a great compliment. Most of our cases come from prior client or lawyers that also do car accidents cases but the particular case is too large or too difficult. Being a lawyer and an accountant, we specialize in cases with total lost of income, earning capacity and/or often the inability to continue a family business. Evaluations such as these are second nature for our lawyers. Thanks.
Best in St Louis for auto accident cases. Nobody else is even close.
Response from the owner: So kind of you to leave this review. Whether our lawyers are going after big insurance or their lawyers, skill and experience are essential and win the day for our auto accident clients. Thanks!
This attorney is very smart, very experienced, returns phone calls and knows the answers when asked. One call and I knew this was a great law firm for auto accidents.
Response from the owner: Our law firm appreciates this. This is a comment we get from so many people who call…”none of the lawyers we called told me all the things that you did.” Whether we take a car accident case or not, helping people is a good thing.
5 Star Lawyer for sure! Best you will find in Saint Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks for the 5 Star Rating. Reviews like this are great. Injury victims quickly figure out the TV advertisers are not good. We work hard at being the best we can be and it reflects in our representation of car accident victims.
Watch this lawyer in action. Was way better than all the others. Get this lawyer for an automobile accident for sure.
Response from the owner: Thanks for the recommendation. Besides doing cases, our attorneys train for this. Hard work, case knowledge and technique is key to success in car accident litigation.
Very pleased with The Hoffmann Law Firm. Lawyers are attentive, friendly and go the distance to force the settlement you want. The TV lawyers recommend low offers. This law firm gets the maximum.
Response from the owner: We get calls from car accident victims that had to fire the TV lawyers that they hired. They give the same two reasons: 1) they never spoke to a lawyer at the Big TV law firms, only a paralegal, and 2) the paralegal recommended they accept a low offer. At our law firm, you only talk to the lawyer and if an offer is low we tell you to sue. Thanks!
Several lawyers said to call this lawyer because he is the best. You will appreciate this law firm. Helped with the injury and property claims. Attentive and knowledgeable. Great reputation in St Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks Lexi. Our #1 source of cases is other lawyers referring us cases that are too big for them to handle.
Would use this accident law firm. Best in Saint Louis. Highly rated and it shows. After one phone call, you just know this attorney is better. 5 Stars!!
Response from the owner: Thanks for recommending our lawyers in St Louis. There is a major difference in lawyers as you well know.
Car accident lawyers on tv are not good . Get this attorney ! He is a pro !!
Response from the owner: Thanks Nathan. TV lawyers market for car accidents, use paralegals instead of lawyers and give their employees settlement quotas hence forcing cheap settlements. At our law firm, you get a lawyer who keeps pushing forward for more.
Quality lawyer. Best law firm for a car accident. Advice was way better than other lawyers I called in St. Louis. Helped with property and injury.
Response from the owner: Thanks. The TV lawyer advertisers are just car accident settlement mills. As soon as people call a real attorney, they always tell us how much better and more helpful we were. Appreciate this.
This lawyer is big time. Smooth. The other lawyers on the other side were not nearly as good as this attorney. I recommend friends in St Louis to him for accident injuries and they all say the same thing…”that lawyer is great.”
Response from the owner: Very nice of you to say. Our lawyers work hard on auto accident cases.
Family used this car accident attorney after a crash. Located in St Louis. This lawyer answers the phone and will walk you through the process. Knows his stuff!
Response from the owner: Taking calls, going over the car accident injury and property process is important. Clients that call always say we are the only lawyers that explained everything. Much appreciated.
Tried the lawyers on TV. They were not good. Hired this car accident lawyer instead because he had great reviews. The reviews are correct. This attorney is as good as they get. He does big injury cases that need to be litigated.
Response from the owner: Car accident lawyers on TV do not litigate cases. It is mass production. They have quotas. Local attorneys are best on auto accidents.
Used this attorney for an auto accident. Highly recommend this lawyer in St. Louis. Communicates well.
Response from the owner: Communicating with clients is essential. Taking the client though the car accident claims process is important otherwise major mistakes can occur. It is an effort that we make. Thanks!
Fantastic law firm, I would recommend! Received free consultation related to an auto accident when my parked car was damaged by a baseball. Very supportive advice, these guys are good!
I was in a car accident in St.Louis and hired Chris as my lawyer. He was amazing!!! He helped me every step of the way and was able to get me a great settlement!!!Highly, highly, highly recommend him!
Response from the owner: Each step is important in a car accident. Thanks for recommending us for car accidents injury claims.
