Fog is difficult to drive in due to low visibility. However, fog itself is not necessarily the cause of an accident. If a driver fails to operate their vehicle with prudence and caution during hazardous weather conditions, they may be liable for any injuries or losses that result from a car accident they cause. If you experienced a car accident due to another driver’s negligence in foggy conditions, learn more about your legal rights by contacting an Aurora fog accident lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Call (800) 223-5115 to speak to the legal team today.
How Fog Affects Driving Abilities
According to the National Weather Service, fog is a contributing factor in many car accidents every year in the United States. Additionally, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) indicates that fog impacts a driver’s capabilities to operate a car safely.
It is common knowledge that fog reduces visibility on the roadways. In fact, many vehicles have specific safety measures, such as fog lights, to help drivers see during foggy and inclement weather conditions. Driving slower and with additional caution is a prudent and necessary step for drivers to take to avoid causing a car accident with another driver, pedestrian, motorcyclist, or bicyclist. Whatever the weather conditions, drivers have a duty and responsibility to ensure that they always operate their vehicles in a safe and careful manner.
Determining Driver Negligence in Fog
There are certain rules that all drivers should follow when operating a motor vehicle in foggy conditions. Some of these include:
- Make sure that their lights are on (specifically fog lights if those exist on the vehicle).
- Drive slower than normal in order to better see and evaluate possible dangers or hazards in the roadway, including stopped cars in front of them.
- Minimize all distractions within the vehicle, including not engaging in any texting, phone calls, eating, drinking, smoking, or other distracting activity.
- Never drive while fatigued in inclement weather conditions, as reflexes are much poorer, resulting in an increased risk for accidents.
- Never drive while intoxicated.
- Make sure to follow all rules of the roadway, speed limits, traffic lights, and traffic signs.
If a police accident report or an independent investigation determines that a driver failed to operate a motor vehicle safely, a victim might have the legal right to receive compensation for their out-of-pocket expenses and additional non-economic losses.
For a free legal consultation with a Fog Accidents Lawyer serving Aurora, call (800) 794-0444
Proving Liability in an Accident Related to Fog
When accidents occur in foggy conditions, both sides may claim that the other driver is at fault and liable for the accident. As a result, the process to prove liability and negligence related to an accident in fog can become complex and adversarial. Consulting an Aurora fog accident lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you understand some of the steps you need to take to prove liability, including the following:
- Obtain the official police accident report to determine if one driver received any citations or tickets regarding the accident.
- Conduct an independent investigation into the accident by examining both vehicles, skid marks on the roadway, and injuries suffered.
- Contact expert witnesses, such as accident reconstruction witnesses and medical experts, to help solidify and bolster the testimony of the victim.
- Calculate the amount of non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering, to ensure that a victim receives a fair settlement offer from an insurance company.
- Interview witnesses to the accident to better determine liability and responsibility.
Building a personal injury case based on an accident related to foggy conditions can be a challenging endeavor. Speaking with our legal team can help you learn what steps you need to take to ensure your rights are protected throughout the process.
Aurora Fog Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Insurance Companies and Fog-Related Accidents
Under most circumstances, insurance companies will work hard to pay as little as possible to victims of any kind of car accident. When weather conditions such as fog are a factor in the accident, they might blame the victim for their own injuries and losses. For example, some of the procedures that insurance companies may follow in order to offer a lower settlement amount to a victim of a car accident could include the following:
- Recording conversations with victims to use some small portion of the conversation against them at a later time
- Contacting victims while they are still in the hospital or immediately following an accident when they may still remain in a state of shock or with serious injuries
- Requesting all medical records instead of just the ones that relate specifically to the car accident
- Attempting to have the victim assume some sort of guilt or blame for the car accident
- Stalling and delaying the entire process by requiring cumbersome and unnecessary paperwork
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Find Out How an Aurora Fog Accident Lawyer Can Work with You to Receive Compensation
Fog does not cause accidents; negligent drivers cause accidents. If you experienced injuries and losses in an accident in the fog, consider contacting the legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 223-5115. Speak to a representative to find out how an Aurora fog accident lawyer can help you better understand your legal options.
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