Who Is at Fault for a Car Accident Caused by Snow or Ice?

Indiana gets its fair share of ice and snow every winter. Although this weather allows for some fun winter activities, it can also wreak havoc on our roads. Yet, even though the roads may be snowy and icy, drivers are still expected to drive safely. When they fail to do so, they can be held responsible for any car accidents and injuries which they cause.

How Do Snow and Ice Contribute to Car Crashes?

Snow and ice contribute to car crashes in a number of ways. The first and most obvious way is that this weather makes the roads especially slick and, in turn, makes it more difficult for drivers to control their vehicles and operate them in a safe manner. However, it is not only the actual roads that cause crashes in snowy and icy conditions.

Drivers should clear their entire vehicle of snow and ice before they hit the roads. When they clear only their windows, the snow can fall down from the roof onto the window and reduce the driver’s visibility. Additionally, large pieces of ice can fly off a vehicle when it is in motion and crash into another vehicle, causing that driver to lose control.

The Federal Highway Administration recommends that drivers reduce their speed by 30 to 40 percent in snowy conditions. Unfortunately, drivers in Indiana often fail to slow down and adapt to bad weather conditions. This is extremely dangerous because the tires on a vehicle cannot gain enough traction on snowy and icy roads. If a driver loses control of his or her vehicle, the driver may skid into another lane. A driver may also go off the road and then overcorrect into oncoming traffic. Additionally, when a driver goes too fast, the driver may be forced to slam the brakes when the driver encounters another car or obstacle.

What Is Black Ice?

Black ice is an extremely dangerous condition that can exist on Indiana roads during the winter months. It typically forms when there has been significant thawing and refreezing, or when there has been a light freezing rain. It is basically a thin, slick glaze on the road’s surface.

Drivers often cannot see this ice because it is clear. It blends right into the road. So, they fail to adapt their driving to the slick surface. Intersections, highway ramps, bridges and shady areas are all places where black ice is commonly found. The Indiana Department of Transportation advises all drivers to approach these areas slowly and to always expect black ice – particularly in bad weather conditions.

What Is a Driver’s Duty of Care When Driving in Bad Weather Conditions?

One of the main fears that accident victims have after being involved in an accident caused by snowy and icy conditions is that they will be unable to claim compensation for their injuries. They may believe that another driver cannot be at fault for an accident when it was caused by the weather.

However, even when the conditions are poor, drivers in Indiana are still expected to drive in a safe and reasonable manner. Drivers should slow down, stay a safe distance behind the vehicles in front of them and remain in control of their vehicles. If they fail to do so, they can be held liable in a crash – even when bad weather conditions largely contributed to the crash.

How Do You Prove Fault in an Accident Involving Snow or Ice?

In order for a personal injury claim to be successful after a car accident, you must provide evidence that another driver was at fault. Types of evidence which may establish the fault of another driver include:

• Photographs – After a crash, you should try to take pictures of each vehicle involved and any damage to them. The photos can show road conditions as well as the presence of any brake or skid marks.
• Witness statements – A person’s eyewitness account of how an accident occurred can serve as powerful evidence – especially if the witness is someone who has no interest at stake in the case.
• Black box data – This type of evidence is not available in all cases. However, if the other car was a late-model vehicle, or if it was a commercial motor vehicle, it may have an event data recorder with data that includes the vehicle’s speed and brake pressure just before impact.
• Cell phone records – It is dangerous to talk on a phone or text while driving in any weather conditions – but especially so when the roads are snowy and icy. Cell phone records can indicate whether the other driver was distracted in the moments leading up to your crash.
• Chemical test results – If a police officer suspects that the other driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the officer will administer breath, blood or urine tests. If the driver who caused your crash in snow or ice was impaired at the time, it can establish negligence per se, or negligence as a matter of law.

How Can a Lawyer Help If You Were in a Crash in Snow or Ice?

A lawyer from Truitt Law Offices can help in many different ways if you were involved in a crash due to snow and ice. In particular, we will conduct a timely, full investigation in order to determine how your accident happened and who should be held liable. As part of our investigation, we may visit the scene of the crash, speak to witnesses and reach out to our extensive network of experts. We will also collect and analyze your medical records and consult with experts in fields such as life-care planning in order to fully assess your damages. Above all, we will demand maximum compensation for you. If an insurance company refuses to make a settlement offer that you can accept, we will be ready to fight for you at trial.

Get Help from a Fort Wayne Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you have been involved in a car accident in snowy and icy conditions, our car accident lawyers in Fort Wayne can help you. At Truitt Law Offices, we are passionate about protecting the rights of car accident victims and pursuing just compensation for them. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you in a free consultation.

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COVID-19 Update: Hire Us from the Comfort of Your Own Home – DETAILS HERE

We are taking the threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Indiana very seriously. Right now, people in IN are being hurt by the threat of the Coronavirus. Let us help! We understand the fears that many people may have about traveling. We want those in our community to play our part by minimizing contact so that we can reduce the spread of this illness. With this in mind, Truitt Law Offices wants to remind you that you do not have to come to our office to meet with us. You can become a client from the comfort of your own home via phone consultations and electronic signature capabilities. We are available 24 hours a day & 7 days a week and you can hire Truitt Law Offices over the phone at 800-628-2904. Of course, you are still welcome to come into our office for a free consultation. Whichever way you prefer, we are here to help. Talk to us for free. Hurt? Call 800-628-2904.

COVID 19 Prevention: Social Distancing

Health officials are recommending “social distancing” measures to cut down on close contact. This will help minimize the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Please make sure you review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for more information about other steps you can take to protect yourself and others from exposure to this virus.

General Info About (COVID-19)

More and more information about the virus is coming out daily. Please stay up to date on information and symptoms by checking the following resources:

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html
• https://www.healthline.com/health/coronavirus-symptoms

*This blog was written with the most up to date information and this information is subject to change as more information about the virus is released & found.

This virus spreads easily and sustainably! You can get COVID-19 “by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.” It is thought that you are most contagious when you are displaying symptoms, however you can be contagious before you even show symptoms.

Symptoms of Coronavirus

Here are some of the major symptoms of the virus:

• Respiratory Tract Infection – shortness of breath
• Fever/chills
• Cough
• Flu-like symptoms
  • Fatigue
  • Pressure in the Chest
  • Headaches
  • Muscle or Body Aches
  • Sore Throat

Please note that carriers of the virus may not be displaying symptoms and that you are still at risk and may be carrying the virus and not know unless you are tested.

Contact Truitt Law Offices Today

If you were hurt in an accident and are seeking legal help, let the attorneys at Truitt Law Offices help you – in the comfort of your own home! If you would like to discuss your legal issues with any one of our attorneys, we can simply meet with you by phone.

Contact us now at 800-628-2904 to schedule your free consultation and learn more about how we can meet with you remotely to review your claim.

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What’s the Worst Intersection in Allen County? Facebook Users Weigh In

At the start of 2020, Truitt Law Offices asked on our Facebook page for people to tell us what they believed to be the “worst intersection in Allen County.” The question drew a high number of responses – and a wide range of opinions. While some users identified specific intersections where they have seen a high risk of car accidents, many others pointed to entire stretches of road. Still, others simply pointed to roundabouts – period. Here is a closer look at some of the responses we got:

Watch Out for These Intersections in Allen County

Even though we received dozens of responses, only a handful of Facebook users named specific intersections in Allen County as being the “worst” in our area. The intersections which they identified were:

• West Coliseum Boulevard and Lima Road – This is a busy, multiple-lane intersection in a heavy commercial area near Glenbrook Square shopping mall.
• I-69 off-ramp and Goshen Road – When you exit the interstate, you merge onto a heavily traveled four-lane road, which is U.S. 30 for a stretch. “The genius who designed [that ramp] was asleep,” one Facebook user said. “You take your life in your hand every time you get off.”
• Goshen Avenue and St. Mary’s Avenue – If you are traveling south on Russell Avenue, the road bends sharply just before you reach Goshen Avenue, which makes this intersection a tricky one. The road becomes St. Mary’s Avenue just after you pass through the intersection.
• Parkview Plaza Drive and East Dupont Road – This intersection is located across from Parkview Regional Medical Center and near a stretch of hotels, restaurants and gas stations. “At least the ambulance drivers have a quick run, but accidents are routine there,” one user said. Just a block west of this intersection is the I-69 on/off ramp, which another user identified as being a problem area.
• Kenwood Avenue and Beacon Street – This appears to be a typical residential intersection. Nothing on its face would make it look like a particularly dangerous one.  However, looks can be deceiving. As one user commented, drivers “never want to stop at the sign and roll through it without looking for traffic.” Also, because the speed limit is not posted near the intersection, drivers often “go as fast as they want.”

In addition to these intersections, one Facebook user described “any intersection on Coliseum” as being dangerous, while another user said that the I-69 interchanges with Illinois Road, Goshen Road and Lima Road were all problem areas.

It’s interesting to point out that that, a few years ago, the teen driving safety organization, Drive Alive, identified the 20 most dangerous intersections in Allen County. Drive Alive based the list on the rate of accidents relative to the traffic at those intersections, or RMV, during the period between 2011 and 2013. The 10 intersections at the top of the list were:

Intersection                                                                 RMV

Loch Lomond Drive & Sherman Boulevard                5.88

Clay Street & East Wayne Street                                   4.37

I-69 ramp & U.S. 24 West                                              4.17

Illinois Road East & South Lindenwood Avenue         4.05

Fairfield Avenue & West Wayne Street                         3.81

Getz Road & West Jefferson Boulevard                        3.62

Auburn Road & I-469 ramp                                           3.56

Clay Street & East Lewis Street                                     3.17

Covington Road & Getz Road                                        3.15

Adams Center Road & East Paulding Road                  3.14

Do you agree with this list? Can you think of more dangerous intersections?

It’s All About Roundabouts

For five people who responded to our Facebook page question, their major concern was not a specific intersection. Instead, it was a specific type of intersection – roundabouts.

“I hate those darn things!!!” said one user.

“Very dangerous,” said another.

“The roundabouts are nightmares,” said yet another user. “People do not yield!!!”

Why all of the disdain for roundabouts? After all, they are supposed to be beneficial for drivers. They are designed to keep traffic flowing smoothly and safely and to reduce the type of congestion which frequently contributes to crashes.

According to Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly, a Federal Highway Administration study actually found that roundabouts increase traffic flow by 30 to 50 percent. A separate Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study found that they cut injury crashes by about 75 percent when compared to intersections with traffic lights and stop signs.

Still, for some drivers, roundabouts are just too confusing. Many drivers are not used to encountering them. So, they may not immediately realize when they should yield or when they have the right of way. The situation can become even more confusing when the roundabout has multiple lanes.

Even when people understand how to navigate a roundabout, their concern is that other drivers do not. Also, many drivers fail to reduce their speed and keep a proper lookout when they pass through roundabouts, which raises the risk of a crash.

Unfortunately, if you dislike roundabouts, they are here to stay – and more will be on the way, too. Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly reported in 2017 that nearly 20 roundabouts could be found scattered throughout Fort Wayne and Allen County, and local planners had several more in the works for areas such as where the Goshen Avenue, Sherman Boulevard and Lillian Avenue come together.

With that said, be thankful that you do not live in Carmel, Indiana. It has more than 110 roundabouts – the most of any city in the state.

Careless and Reckless Drivers – Not Intersections – Cause Accidents

Several Facebook users remarked that intersections are not the problem in Allen County. Rather, the problem lies with individual drivers. They suggested that the best way to protect yourself from accidents is to practice “defensive driving.”

“If you drive like a normal person – cautious – you will always have to look out for the worst drivers,” one user said.

“My husband who was a semi driver always said [that when you are driving], you had to drive for the one ahead of you, the one on either side of you and the one behind you plus drive for yourself, making you drive for five people,” another user said. “He never had a wreck in 30-plus years of driving. Worked for him.”

Get Help from Our Car Accident Lawyers in Fort Wayne

Regardless of where your accident occurs in Fort Wayne or Allen County, you should take immediate steps to protect your right to recover full compensation for your losses. Contact our experienced and dedicated legal team at Truitt Law Offices. We can provide a free consultation and help you to understand and explore all of your legal options.

The post What’s the Worst Intersection in Allen County? Facebook Users Weigh In appeared first on Truitt Law Offices.

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