It’s wintertime in Cincinnati, which can mean roads covered in ice and snow. Every winter, there are serious auto accidents that started when a motorist lost control on a patch of ice. Their vehicle can slide into an intersection or oncoming traffic, and the other drivers on the road may not be able to avoid a collision.
If you were injured in a car accident in icy weather, you might be wondering if you can hold the other driver responsible for damages. After all, they cannot control the weather or road conditions.
Cincinnati drivers have a duty to drive carefully on ice
That is true, but every driver can control how they react to changing conditions. When the roads are slippery, responsible drivers know that they must slow down and allow more following space between their vehicle and the one in front of them. They start braking earlier than usual when approaching a red light, stop sign or stopped traffic, and avoid jamming on the brakes as much as possible. These reasonable precautions greatly reduce the risk of a crash.
Drivers who ignore bad weather conditions and drive as if it were a sunny day in June are negligent under Ohio’s personal injury laws. If their negligence leads to a car accident and someone else gets hurt as a result, that victim has the right to seek compensation from the negligent driver. Common damages sought include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and the cost of repairing or replacing the vehicle.
Building a claim for damages after a winter car crash
Proving the other driver was negligent depends on the evidence. For example, there could be signs that they were driving too fast for the weather conditions or were following your vehicle too closely so that they could not brake in time. Your personal injury attorney will closely investigate the evidence to build the best possible case for full compensation.