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Who Can Be Held Liable for Winter Truck Accidents?
Every winter, the risk of truck accidents increases across the United States. This can be an especially serious issue in Wisconsin, since our state often experiences harsh winters, cold temperatures, and conditions that make roads more dangerous. From icy roads to poor visibility caused by falling snow or freezing rain, truck drivers face a wide range of challenges when operating their vehicles in winter weather. Ultimately, these conditions can lead to dangerous truck accidents that result in serious injuries and even death.
When it comes to winter truck accidents, liability can be a complex issue. It can sometimes be difficult to identify the party or parties who were responsible, as the conditions directly impacting an accident are often variable and unpredictable. By working with an attorney who understands the laws and regulations surrounding liability for winter truck accidents, victims can take the correct steps to pursue compensation, ensuring that they will be able to address their expenses and move forward with their lives.
Common Causes of Winter Truck Accidents
People who are injured in truck accidents may be able to take legal action against the responsible parties. By understanding the specific causes of an accident, a victim can determine who may be held liable. Some common reasons that winter truck accidents may occur include:
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Driver error - Driving on snowy or icy roads or during winter storms can be difficult for any driver. However, commercial truck drivers need to take extra care to ensure that they can avoid accidents. Driving too fast during winter conditions, failing to allow extra time to slow down and stop on slippery roads, or other mistakes made by truck drivers can lead to dangerous collisions. In these situations, a victim may be able to hold a truck driver responsible for negligent driving, and a trucking company may also be liable for its failure to ensure that drivers were properly trained on how to operate vehicles safely during winter weather.
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Mechanical failures - When trucking companies fail to properly maintain their vehicles, this can affect drivers' ability to operate trucks safely during the winter. If a truck's brakes were not serviced correctly, this may have prevented a truck driver from being able to control their speed on snowy or icy roads. Failure to inspect and replace worn tires may lead to a loss of traction, causing a truck driver to lose control in winter weather conditions. Truck owners and trucking companies may be liable for failing to ensure that trucks were safe to drive in the winter.
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Road conditions - Inclement winter weather can cause a truck driver to lose control of their vehicle, even with proper training and vehicle maintenance, and in some cases, accidents may occur because a road is unreasonably dangerous. If icy roads or other dangerous road conditions contributed to an accident, a victim could potentially pursue compensation from local or state governments if they failed to plow roads properly, did not use salt to improve traction on roads, or failed to properly repair damaged roads or bridges.
Contact Our Milwaukee, WI Truck Accident Lawyers
Winter truck accidents can be complex, and determining who was responsible is not always easy. It is important for victims of truck accidents to understand the various factors that may have contributed to an accident, such as driver error, mechanical failures, or road conditions. By working with the experienced Milwaukee truck accident attorneys of Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, LLP, LLP, injured individuals can determine the best steps to take to pursue compensation from all liable parties. Contact us today at 414-271-1440 to learn more about how we can help you address the injuries you have suffered in a truck accident and ensure that you will be able to move forward with your life.
Sources:
https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/safety/education/winter-drv/default.aspx
https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/weather_events/snow_ice.htm
https://schneiderjobs.com/blog/winter-driving-tips-for-truck-drivers
