Trucking crashes are dangerous and have the propensity to lead to devastating losses. When bad weather is a factor, these truck accidents can become even deadlier. Sometimes, things go beyond control, leading to extreme losses. There have been various reports all across the country of similar accidents. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse how certain types of climate may impact trucks and what is crucial for drivers and the victims to know.
Why Bad Weather Is Dangerous for Trucks?
Heavy vehicles such as trucks are large, bulky, and difficult to manoeuvre, especially on rainy occasions. Conditions like rain, snow, wind, and fog become unfavourable for truck drivers as they hinder their movement through the steering, impede their braking ability, and obscure their vision of the road ahead of them. This is why poor weather conditions are hazardous to the vehicle and its occupants. They raise the probability of an accident.
What Does the Law Say Regarding Driving in Bad Weather?
Truck drivers are mainly supposed to be conscious of this responsibility and ensure that they drive safely. Federal laws suggest that truck drivers have to be extremely cautious and careful during specific weather conditions, including snow, ice, fog, rain, and strong wind speeds. If certain weather conditions become unbearably treacherous, the driver should completely stop and wait until the road becomes safe again.
Who Is at Fault if any accident occurs?
Even if bad weather is unfavourable for driving a car or a truck and can be the real cause of an accident, all drivers are expected to drive safely. If a driver, for instance, does not slow down or stop when the weather is bad, they will be held legally responsible for any incident that may occur. But, it may sometimes become a little tricky to determine who is at fault here. This is often dependent on the details of the particular accident that has taken place.
Types of Bad Weather That Cause Accidents
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Windstorms
There are various hazards on the road. Sometimes, strong winds are easily capable of overturning trucks. There is a lot of weight on the top of the truck and less weight on the bottom, creating an unbalance for the trucks. So they are easily tipped over when there is a lot of wind. This can result in rollovers, which are highly dangerous to the truck driver and other road users on the highway.
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Heavy Rain or Snow
Rain and snow will wet the truck’s surface and make it slippery. This makes it difficult for a truck to steer or stop when it has lost its grip on the road and slides. On the other hand, ice is worse as it reduces friction even more than snow. When a truck is on ice, it is not stable, which means that it can easily cause an accident, which would be very dangerous for all the people around the truck.
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Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms can scare drivers. Thunder or lightning might make them panic. They could hit the brakes suddenly or turn quickly. This can make them lose control and cause accidents.
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Fog
Fog makes it hard to see. Truck drivers might drift out of their lane or not see other cars. This can lead to crashes.
Conclusion
Bad weather makes truck driving risky. But drivers must still follow safety rules. If they don’t, and a crash happens, they can be blamed. If you’re in a truck accident during bad weather, get legal help quickly. This ensures your protection nd aids in your recovery process.
