Southern California Snowstorms Result in Dangerous Driving Conditions

Recently Southern California was hit by a serious snowstorm that caused dangerous conditions on the 14 Freeway. The slick roads wet from rain and snow resulted in several accidents—one accident occurring in Palmdale was fatal.

According to ABC 7 News, “at least one person was killed in a crash between a vehicle and a big rig…in Palmdale” around 3 in the morning. As a result of the accident, all northbound lanes of the 14 freeway were closed until after 8:30 am, which caused traffic to be backed up for miles.

What exactly caused the fatal accident is now under investigation. If the accident was caused by the intentional acts or negligence of one of the drivers, the family of the victim may have a Southern California wrongful death claim.

Bad Weather and Car Accidents

When the weather is bad due to rain, or snow in this case, it is important to be very cautious while driving. Because of the slick conditions, or poor visibility, accidents are more likely to happen. However, even if rain or snow or slick conditions contribute to an accident, the driver that causes the accident can still be held responsible for injuries or wrongful death when an accident occurs.

Every driver has a legal duty to drive safely with caution and care. In legal terms, you must drive and use the care of a reasonable driver under the circumstances. This means you must obey traffic laws and stay alert while driving. You should never driver while drowsy, intoxicated, or distracted. If you choose to intentionally drive carelessly, or drive in a negligent way and disregard this duty, you can be held responsible for any harm you cause.

This duty of care to drive carefully does not disappear simply because bad weather caused bad road conditions. In fact, you should be even more cautious in snowy or rainy conditions—when driving in these conditions you should slow down, allow for more time to stop, leave a greater distance between you and the car in front of you, and be especially aware of other drivers to avoid causing an accident.

Los Angeles Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Claims

If you are injured in a car accident in Los Angeles or other Southern California city, you can bring a personal injury claim against the driver responsible for your injuries to receive financial compensation. If you have lost a loved one in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver, you may have a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim helps the family of a victim obtain compensation for funeral costs, medical expenses, and other damages associated with their loss.

A driver may try to blame the bad weather for causing an accident, however, remember that there can still be liability even if bad weather contributes to an accident. To make sure you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries or the loss of your loved one, contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury and wrongful death attorney at Walch Law. We offer a free case consultation to go over the details of your case—we can assist in a proper investigation to see if you have a claim and then will work to help you get the recovery you deserve. Contact us today at 866-465-8792 to schedule your free consultation!