Rear-End Collision in Icy Conditions

By  //  April 7, 2022

The winter period brings icy conditions that may inevitably lead to crashes on the road. With these crashes, motorists may not know how to go about filing liability claims.

Who is at Fault in a Rear-End Icy Collision

The “at-fault” driver will have to be known to determine who pays damages for whatever loss victim(s) incur. When a rear-end collision occurs under normal weather conditions, the typical thing is to shift the liability to the driver who hit the vehicle’s back. 

The driver following behind almost always takes the blame because they are expected to follow the car in front of them from a safe distance and avoid being at a close range. However, in an icy condition, the driver whose rear gets hit takes responsibility for the crash.

The reason is that motorists are required to take full responsibility for their cars and ensure they maintain control of it while on the road.

What to Do When Driving in Icy Conditions

Taking precautions while driving in icy conditions will help to protect you and others on the road. What steps can motorists take to ensure that rear-end accidents do not occur even when the weather condition is not good?

■ Allow a considerable following distance between vehicles. It is advisable to give at least six seconds stopping spread when driving in icy conditions

■ Navigate sharp turns slowly to avoid the vehicle skidding out of the lane

■ Drive below the recommended speed limit for the road one is on

■ Avoid distracted driving and keep your full attention on the road

■ Apply steady pressure on the vehicle brakes when necessary to maintain complete control at all times

Taking extra precautions will help to ensure you are not found liable if a rear-end car accident occurs. 

What to Do When Involved in a Rear-End Collision in Icy Conditions

If you ever get involved in a rear-end collision in icy conditions, acting fast will save you a lot of headaches. First, check for injuries and seek immediate medical attention where injuries occurred. Even if you do not see any visible injuries on any of the occupants of the vehicles, a medical check would help detect internal injuries at the time.  

Once you are sure no one is injured in the accident, the next thing to do would be to call the police and get evidence of the crash. Getting a snapshot of the collision will help further investigations when the police arrive. Documenting the testimonies of eyewitnesses and getting their contact information would also help.

Finally, request a copy of the accident report. Once you have the report, contact your insurance company to be aware. This first contact will not count as the official filing but rather just to make your insurer aware that you were involved in an accident.

Going Forward

No one plans to get into a rear-end accident in icy conditions. However, these accidents happen, and sometimes the process of determining eligibility can be quite tricky. If you are involved in a rear-end accident and incur losses, your best bet to getting adequate compensation is by engaging the services of an experienced attorney.

Having an experienced personal injury attorney who will walk you through the entire process of filing claims is vital. You can get due compensation for the damages you may have suffered.