Sudden thunderstorms, hail, dense fog, and even the occasional ice storm can quickly turn a routine drive into a dangerous one. When another driver fails to slow down or adjust to these conditions, the result can be a serious collision.
If bad weather played a role in causing your crash injuries, a Dallas weather car accident lawyer at Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. can help you understand your options and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Why Choose Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. for Your Weather-Related Accident Claim in Dallas?
Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. has served injured people throughout Dallas, Texas, and the surrounding Metroplex for more than 50 years. Our law firm opened its doors in 1971, and many of our staff members have worked here for an average of 25 years. That kind of stability means your weather-related car accident claim is handled by a team that knows the local roads, courts, and insurance companies.
While we have a strong foundation and a proven track record, we still strive to stay current with Texas personal injury law, as our lawyers hold memberships in numerous professional legal organizations. That deep knowledge is how we’re always prepared to stand up to major insurance companies and fight for your rights, even if that means going to trial.
We also pride ourselves on being approachable and will keep you informed at every stage of your claim. Here is what one client had to say about working with our law firm:
“Kraft & Associates went the extra mile for me. Thank you guys so much!!! Great communication, professional, friendly, and kind.” – Eboney K.
How Poor Visibility and Bad Weather Cause Car Accidents in Dallas
The weather does not have to be extreme to create real danger on the road. Even a light rain shower can reduce a driver’s visibility and slow their reaction time.
Rain leads to wet pavement, affecting vehicle traction and maneuverability, while heavy rain decreases visibility distance. As such, wet pavement car accidents are among the most common weather-related claims our firm sees. TxDOT crash data shows that rain played a role in roughly 46,000 reported Texas traffic accidents in a single recent year.
Fog was another significant contributor, causing nearly 3,000 collisions in Texas that year alone. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reports that low-visibility conditions caused by fog and heavy precipitation – along with wind-blown snow, dust, and smoke – lead to greater speed variance, which increases crash risk.
In the DFW Metroplex, sudden downpours and flash flooding can appear with little warning, especially during the spring storm season. Winter brings its own risks, too, since a quick temperature drop after rain can leave black ice on bridges and overpasses. A Dallas car accident attorney at our law firm can help you piece together what happened and hold the at-fault driver accountable.
Dangerous Dallas Intersections and Highways Prone to Weather-Related Wrecks
Roads that already carry a high crash volume in clear weather tend to become even riskier once rain, fog, or glare enter the picture. A recent review of Dallas data identified several corridors with a long history of serious and fatal traffic accidents, including:
- Buckner Boulevard – This roadway appears multiple times among the city’s highest-risk stretches, particularly between Lake June Road and Interstate 30.
- Northwest Highway – Stretches of this road between Walton Walker Boulevard and Timberline Drive have recorded some of the highest injury counts in Dallas.
- Storey Road – This corridor near the Irving city limit has a significant history of injuries involving vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles.
- Second Avenue – This road between Elsie Faye Heggins Street and U.S. Highway 175 rounds out the list of high-risk corridors.
Poor visibility or wet pavement can make an already dangerous stretch even more unpredictable.
What to Do Immediately After a Weather-Related Car Accident in Dallas, TX
The steps you take right after a crash can protect both your health and your future claim. Consider these actions:
- Move to a safe location. You can reduce your chances of a second collision in low-visibility conditions by pulling off the road if possible.
- Call 911. A police report will document the weather and road conditions at the scene, which can matter later.
- Take photos of the scene. Pictures of standing water, fog, ice, or poor lighting can support your account of what happened.
- Exchange information with the other driver. Get their name, contact details, and insurance information before you leave the scene.
- Seek medical attention. Some injuries do not show symptoms right away, and a medical record creates an important timeline.
- Contact a Dallas poor visibility accident attorney. An attorney can start securing camera footage and other evidence before it disappears.
Texas Traffic Laws and the “Special Duty of Care” in Adverse Weather
Texas law does not give drivers a pass just because the weather turns bad. Under the state’s maximum speed rule, motorists cannot drive faster than is reasonable given the circumstances. The law specifically requires drivers to slow down when weather conditions create a special hazard. This means that even a driver traveling at the posted speed limit can be deemed negligent if that speed was unsafe for the rain, fog, or ice on the road at the time.
Bad weather is not a legal excuse for reckless driving. It is a condition that every driver has a duty to plan for – and failing to do so can lead to legal responsibility for any resulting crash.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Weather or Visibility-Related Car Accident?
The weather itself almost never causes an accident. A driver’s failure to respond safely to the weather usually does.
Several parties can bear liability for a weather-related crash, depending on the facts of the case, including:
- The other driver – Speeding, following too closely, or failing to use headlights in fog or rain are common examples of unsafe driving in adverse weather conditions.
- A government entity – A city or county can share responsibility if a drainage problem, a missing warning sign, or a broken traffic signal contributed to the crash.
- A vehicle manufacturer or owner – Defective windshield wipers or brakes can turn a survivable storm into a dangerous one.
- Trucking companies – Commercial motorists have an even greater duty to drive safely in bad weather, which can make their employers liable when they fail to do so.
Our attorneys can investigate every angle of your weather-related crash to identify each party who may share responsibility.
What Compensation Can You Seek in a Weather-Related Auto Accident Claim?
If another driver’s careless response to poor weather conditions caused your crash-related injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for several types of losses, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost income
- Reduced earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
The amount you seek will depend on the severity of your injury and how the car crash has affected your life, among other factors. Our Dallas car accident lawyers will walk you through what a fair outcome could look like for your specific situation.
How Does Texas’s Modified Comparative Negligence Rule Affect Your Claim?
Insurance companies often try to shift the blame to the injured driver in a weather-related crash, and Texas law has a specific rule governing how this works. The state’s modified comparative negligence rule states that an accident victim has no right to recover damages if their percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent.
In practice, this means you can still obtain compensation even if you share some fault for the crash, as long as you are 50 percent or less to blame. Your final recovery will simply be reduced by your share of the fault. For example, a driver found 20 percent responsible for a weather-related car accident could still recover 80 percent of their total compensation.
Because insurance adjusters often try to inflate an injured driver’s share of the blame, having an experienced Dallas personal injury attorney on your side can help level the playing field.
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Texas?
Under Texas law, you generally must file a personal injury lawsuit no later than two (2) years from the date of the crash. However, certain exceptions could give you more or less time to take legal action.
If you plan to file a lawsuit for a Dallas accident, it will typically go through the Dallas County District Courts. These courts handle major civil matters, including personal injury cases, throughout the county.
Missing the deadline will almost always prevent you from recovering compensation, no matter how strong your claim would have been. For this reason, it helps to speak with a Dallas County car accident attorney well before any time limit approaches.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Dallas Car Accident Attorney?
Cost should never stand between you and high-quality legal help. At Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C., we handle weather-related car accident claims on a contingency fee basis. That means you will not pay any attorney fees unless we recover money for you. Your initial consultation with our law firm is also free, so you can discuss your claim and learn your options with no financial risk.
Contact an Experienced Dallas Weather-Related Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you were hurt in a rain, fog, or ice-related crash anywhere in the DFW area, the team at Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C. is ready to help. With more than 50 years of experience serving Dallas, Texas, and a staff that has stood by our clients for decades, we can fight for the compensation you are owed.
Reach out to our law firm today at (214) 999-9999 or contact us online for a free consultation with a Dallas weather car accident attorney.