Texas weather can change from clear skies to pouring rain, sudden thunder, and even ice storms in minutes. When weather-related crashes occur, victims are often left wondering who is responsible for the property damage, medical bills, and other losses they have suffered.
Weather alone doesn’t automatically excuse negligent driving or poor road maintenance. Drivers have a duty to adjust their behavior for conditions, and government agencies must properly maintain roadways and provide adequate warnings about hazards.
An accident lawyer in McAllen, TX can help you navigate these processes and avoid errors that would otherwise prevent you from securing compensation.
Common Types of Weather-Related Car Accidents in Texas
Dangerous weather can catch many drivers unprepared and lead to preventable collisions. Some of the most common types of weather-related accidents include:
- Hydroplaning during heavy rainfall, when vehicles lose traction and slide uncontrollably across wet pavement
- Rear-end collisions in fog or rain, where drivers fail to maintain safe following distances that account for reduced visibility
- Single-vehicle crashes involving vehicles sliding off icy roads or losing control in high winds
- Flash flood accidents where drivers attempt to navigate flooded roadways and become stranded or swept away
Driver Negligence in Weather-Related Accident Claims
Even when the weather contributes to an accident, drivers can still be held liable for their negligent actions. You have the right to expect other motorists to exercise reasonable care and to adjust their driving to account for the weather. This means reducing speed when visibility decreases, maintaining greater following distances on wet roads, and pulling over safely when conditions become too dangerous to continue driving.
When another driver speeds through a thunderstorm, fails to turn on headlights in heavy rain, or doesn’t clear ice from their windshield before driving, their negligence can lead to an accident. In these situations, you have the right to file an insurance claim or lawsuit directly against the at-fault driver.
In your claim, you can secure compensation to help pay for:
- The medical expenses associated with your accident, including past and future costs
- Lost wages during your treatment and recovery periods
- Diminished earning capacity if your injury prevents you from returning to work
- Property damage that you sustained in the crash
- The physical and emotional pain and suffering that you experienced
When Poor Road Maintenance Contributes to Weather-Related Crashes
Government agencies have a responsibility to maintain safe roadways and warn drivers about hazardous conditions. Unfortunately, they do not always uphold this responsibility. Poor drainage systems that allow water to pool on highways, inadequate warning signs about icy bridges, or failure to repair potholes that become more dangerous in wet conditions can all contribute to a car accident.
You may have grounds for a claim against the responsible government agency if inadequate road design or maintenance contributed to your crash. These cases are often more complex than claims involving individual drivers, involving different procedures and much shorter filing deadlines.
Discuss Your Legal Options with De La Garza Law Firm Today
Texas weather creates unpredictable driving conditions that can lead to serious accidents, but poor weather alone may not absolve other drivers of responsibility. De La Garza Law Firm examines how factors like inadequate vehicle maintenance, excessive speed for the conditions, or failure to adjust driving behavior contributed to your crash. Contact us at (956) 586-5617 to explore your legal options after a weather-related collision.
