Michigan’s seasonal weather changes require adjustments to driving habits. Inclement weather can technically occur at any time of year, but the winter tends to inspire particularly harsh driving conditions. Snow and sleet, as well as black ice on the roads, can lead to preventable collisions.
Weather can also create driving hazards throughout the year. Windstorms and heavy rain during warmer seasons can also make motor vehicle travel far more dangerous than usual. Wet pavement can increase stopping distance, and blowing precipitation can reduce visibility. Most people don’t have the luxury of staying home whenever there’s a storm. They still need to get to work and take their children to school.
Typically, those involved in collisions have options for covering their expenses. They can use their own no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) coverage to pay for injury-related expenses. Drivers can also use the liability coverage of a motorist at fault to supplement their PIP coverage and pay for property damage losses. If a crash occurs during inclement weather, does that mean that neither driver is at fault?
Traffic laws require appropriate driving conduct
State statutes outline general expectations for the behavior of drivers. They typically need to conform to speed limits, follow instructions provided by signs and maintain their vehicles in a safe manner. The state also expects that drivers should adjust their conduct based on road conditions. When it is snowy, icy, wet or windy, drivers may have to change how they behave.
Typically, inclement weather requires two main adjustments from drivers. They need to decrease their speed and they also need to increase their following distance. By slowing down and leaving more space in between vehicles, they give themselves an opportunity to react to changing traffic conditions.
Police officers responding to a crash during inclement weather can typically assign fault and issue citations. If a driver failed to slow down and increase their following distance, then their behavior may not have been reasonably safe given the weather and road conditions.
Proving that another driver violated state statutes or drove in an unsafe manner can help people pursue compensation through insurance or a personal injury lawsuit after a car crash. Those who understand how the law addresses changing road conditions may have an easier time demanding accountability from those who cause collisions due to their unsafe behavior.