Alaska roads during winter seem beautiful, with the surface being free of potholes due to graded snow. But this can be a source of your car wreck.? During winter, one can still expect local traffic due to the demands of work or other issues that may require one to be on the road.
?While speeding is the leading cause of car accidents in Alaska, research shows that adverse road conditions also causes car accidents leading to extreme casualties or injuries.
Whether it is business or work that makes one drive through wintry roads, one may be concerned with what would happen to their car if they are involved in an accident.
Car Accident During Snow
During winter-related car accidents, one can argue that this is an unexpected occurrence, and the driver may be able to avoid such an accident.? Though this may be true, certain circumstances may lead to another driver causing the accident.?
If you were driving during winter, and your car was involved in an accident, you would want to learn how to recover from your damages. One best way to ensure you are on the right track for your case is to discuss your situation with an?Alaska auto accident attorney.? Such can guide you on who may be held responsible.? Below are few examples:
- The government: Street maintenance crew may be held responsible if they fail to clear snow in an unsatisfactory manner. For instance, the snow may have formed drifts or ridges on main roads leading to a hazardous obstruction that led to your car accident. Where the municipality is said to have acted negligently, they may be held liable. In some cases, the authorities may be liable for not putting warnings on areas unsuitable for driving during winter.
- Property owner: Estate roads are manned by the property owners. In case of an accident they may be held liable.
- The driver: Not every driver is keen to adjust their driving to suit the snowy conditions, which may lead to accidents. A driver who speeds or fails to keep a safe distance may cause accidents.
You can use your own insurance company to pay for your injuries or vehicle damages where you were at fault. But where there is shared fault, you will only get compensated depending on the percentage of your fault.
Your insurance company may argue that it?s your responsibility to take care of your car during winters. While this may be the case, sometimes accidents during winter are inevitable and may be caused due to someone else negligence.
How To Prove Fault
?Where you are too happy with the insurance adjuster’s decision, you have a chance to appeal. In such a case, it’s advisable to have a car accident lawyer guide you on?proving fault for your car accident. Your lawyer can help you reaffirm the fact that somebody else faults led to your accident. In some cases, liability is always apparent, but to file your claim, it?s better to show what rules were violated. You may choose to provide:
- Demonstrative evidence: You can take photographs or video with your phone or camera. The more complex your case is, the more demonstrative evidence is needed. Such helps to simplify your case and also guide the jury into understanding your case.
When such evidence is used with credible witness testimony, it may be a powerful tool for your case.
Another best way to provide such evidence would be to show your injuries. Documenting injuries after any car accident is another excellent way to prove you suffered. Where someone else was liable, it becomes easy to get compensated.
- Circumstantial evidence: When trying to prove your car accident case, it?s good to draw inferences from your case circumstances to arrive at a solid conclusion.
To win your case and make the jury rule the case in your favor, such evidence must be highly compelling. Fortunately, there are many cases where juries have reached a conclusion based on circumstantial evidence.
- Hearsay evidence: One best illustration to describe this is the use of police reports. These reports play a significant role in any car accident case, though such reports usually are inadmissible in court. But their report proves to be beneficial during settlement negotiations. This is especially when such a report indicates that the other party was to blame for the accident. When used in settlement negotiations, the insurance adjuster will be more inclined to offer you a better settlement.
There are many?ways to preserve evidence in your car accident case?during winter. But to make sure you get strong evidence, you may choose to discuss your case with an experienced lawyer.
Get Legal Help
Car accidents during snow are known to cause multiple injuries or vehicle damage.
If you feel someone else negligence led to your winter related car accident, you have a right to seek an experienced lawyer to handle your case. Such a lawyer will review the circumstances of your case and determine the best possible way to prove fault.
