Bad weather does not excuse a Midwest City driver who causes a crash. Oklahoma law requires a careful and prudent speed for existing road conditions under 47 O.S. § 11-801. A driver who hydroplanes or slides on ice while going too fast for conditions can still be liable for the resulting injuries.
Proving Fault in Bad Weather Accident Cases
Most Midwest City car accident claims rest on negligence: a driver who fails to act as a reasonably careful person would under the same circumstances can be held liable. Oklahoma’s basic speed law, 47 O.S. § 11-801, requires every driver to travel at a speed with due regard for the road surface and other conditions actually present, not just the posted limit.
A driver going the speed limit along the I-40 corridor or through busy intersections like Air Depot Boulevard and SE 29th Street, already congested with Tinker Air Force Base traffic, can still be negligent. That speed can still be too fast for the rain, ice, or fog actually on the road. Insurance adjusters often blame the weather itself, not the driver’s failure to adjust for it.
Common Bad Weather Accident Claims
Drivers can lower the odds of a crash in rain, snow, or ice by slowing down, increasing following distance, and braking gradually. When drivers skip these precautions, the following kinds of collisions tend to result:
- Rear-end collisions from following too closely to stop safely on a wet or icy road
- A head-on or front-end crash when a sliding vehicle crosses the centerline
- Sideswipe collisions from a driver losing control on ice
- A T-bone or side-impact collision when a driver cannot stop in time at a signal or stop sign
Call a Midwest City Car Accident Involving Bad Weather Attorney
Bad weather is not an excuse for causing a wreck. Some collisions are unavoidable, but driver error, not the weather itself, causes most of them. Another driver’s failure to adjust for rain, snow, or ice can leave you hurt.
A Midwest City auto accident lawyer can review the police report and road conditions to show what a careful driver should have done differently. An attorney handling Midwest City injury claims can also help if you need ongoing medical care.
The damages available after a Midwest City weather-related crash are the same as compensation after a car crash in Oklahoma City: medical bills, vehicle repair, and lost income while you recover.
The National Weather Service’s severe weather driving guidance and Oklahoma’s statewide weather-monitoring network offer useful context on conditions like these. Call Hasbrook & Hasbrook at (405) 605-2426 or start a free case review with our firm to talk through what happened.
