As we approach fall and winter, we can anticipate truck accidents caused by poor weather conditions. Inclement weather, especially storms causing flooding and levee issues, frequently affects North Carolina roadways. Unfortunately, poor weather conditions can also lead to tractor-trailer accidents that are devastating for those involved. Due to their massive size and weight, tractor-trailer crashes can result in catastrophic injuries, including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and death.
Discuss Your Case With a Truck Accident Lawyer TodayNone of us can control the weather, but we are responsible for driving reasonably under the circumstances. Truck drivers have a duty to drive reasonably in inclement weather conditions. If you or your loved one has been seriously injured in an inclement weather accident, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. The personal injury lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, have decades of experience representing clients in truck and car accident cases. We will advocate aggressively for your right to compensation. Contact us today to schedule your no-obligation, free consultation to discuss your case today.
How Do Bad Weather Truck Accidents Occur?In North Carolina and elsewhere, weather conditions can change rapidly. Commercial truck drivers are required to adjust their driving according to the weather conditions. When weather conditions are severe, it can become reasonable for truck drivers to stop driving or reduce their speed below the speed limit. In North Carolina, poor weather conditions can arise in the summer months during hurricane season and in the winter months, especially when the temperature dips below freezing.
Reducing speed can become necessary when heavy rain or other conditions cause low visibility, such as heavy fog. Truck drivers are expected to provide more space when traveling on icy or wet roads. They should check their vehicles to ensure that their tires are inflated and their windshield wiper blades work properly. Finally, since all drivers should look out for the safety of others on the road, the truck driver may be required to pull over to let the weather pass. Unfortunately, truck drivers are frequently under tight deadlines to finish jobs, making it tempting for them to ignore the bad weather and choose not to pull over. Instead, they may continue driving under conditions that are too dangerous, causing a deadly accident.
Bringing a Compensation Claim After a Poor Weather Truck AccidentWhen a truck driver fails to consider bad weather conditions while driving a commercial vehicle, and this negligence leads to an accident, the victim has a right to bring a lawsuit against the truck driver. Truck accident victims can pursue compensation from all of the parties responsible for the accident. There may be one or more at-fault parties.
For example, the truck driver may have been driving too fast during extreme rain. At the same time, the truck mechanic may have failed to notice that the brake pads were wearing too thin in a routine inspection. Suppose the truck driver lost visibility due to the rain. When the driver realizes he is about to collide into another vehicle and tries to stop by braking, the brakes fail. In this scenario, the injured driver may be able to bring a lawsuit against the mechanic who failed to notice that the brake pads were too thin and the driver who failed to reduce his speed during the inclement weather.
In some cases, the victim may bring a lawsuit against the trucking company that employed the truck driver for negligent hiring or supervision. Suppose a trucking company hires a truck driver but fails to conduct a basic background investigation. The background investigation would have revealed that the driver had gotten a ticket for aggressive driving in the past. During a winter storm, the truck driver begins driving aggressively by driving over the speed limit. As a result, the truck driver causes a severe accident. In this case, the victim may be able to sue the trucking company for negligently hiring an employee likely to cause a safety hazard and accident.
Contact a Charlotte Personal Injury LawyerIf you are unsure whether you have the grounds for a personal injury lawsuit or do not know whom to sue, we recommend setting up a free initial consultation with one of the skilled lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC. We will carefully review your case, discuss all of your legal rights and options with you, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact our law firm today.