Injured in a Crash During Heavy Texas Rain? Understanding Liability and Insurance Issues

Living in a state known for its sunny days and balmy nights, Texans can be alarmed when heavy rainstorms hit, creating unfamiliar and dangerous roadway conditions. These unusual conditions can increase the risk for motorists and cause a weather-related car accident in Texas.

If you have been injured in a crash during heavy Texas rain, the time to act is now. Contact the Texas car accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw for the high-quality legal support only experts can provide. Working with an attorney is the best and only way to protect your rights—but you need to act fast. Call our toll-free number 1-800-862-1260 24/7, or contact us online to book your free case evaluation today.

Heavy rain can create hazardous driving conditions, reducing visibility, increasing stopping distances, and making highway surfaces dangerously slippery, increasing the likelihood of a rain-related car accident in Texas. One study found that rain can increase the risk of a fatal accident by 34%.

However, while rain can make road conditions more dangerous, bad weather does not excuse negligent driving behavior. Motorists have a duty to adjust their speed and driving behaviors to match roadway conditions. An experienced lawyer can investigate the circumstances behind a rainy day crash, determine whether another driver’s negligence may have contributed to the incident, and hold them liable under Texas state law.

Because of the negative impact rain can have on roadway safety, many drivers assume that bad weather automatically means that no one is liable for a collision. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Texas law and government guidance require that drivers operate their vehicles with reasonable care regardless of weather conditions. A Texas car accident lawyer can investigate whether any of these common forms of negligence may have been a factor in your accident:

• Driving too fast for weather conditions
• Following too closely
• Distracted driving
• Operating a vehicle with worn tires or defective brakes
• Making unsafe lane changes
• Failing to use headlights when required

If you believe any of these behaviors may have caused your accident, a lawyer

can help you find out the truth and determine who was at fault.

When a car crash occurs on a rainy day in Texas, insurance companies will investigate numerous factors to determine liability. Evidence that may support your case includes:

• Police accident reports
• Photographs of the crash scene
• Witness statements
• Vehicle damage
• Traffic camera footage
• Weather reports

An attorney can help you collect and preserve evidence, communicating with insurance companies throughout the claims process to make sure you get the settlement you deserve.

To protect their bottom line, insurance companies will often try to argue that weather, not driver negligence, was responsible for a collision, hoping to avoid paying what victims deserve. Insurance companies may try to dispute:

• Liability
• Comparative fault
• The severity of injuries
• The necessity of medical treatment
• The cost of property damage
• The value of a claim

Don’t rely on insurance companies to do the right thing. Working with an experienced wet road accident lawyer like those employed by Carabin Shaw is the only way to ensure justice is served.

At Carabin Shaw, we have a track record of success with accidents that occur in rainy weather. Read our law firm’s client reviews to discover how we fight back for justice with no payment up front. Since we work on a contingency fee basis, you pay nothing unless we win your case.

If you’re ready to get the settlement you deserve, the time to act is now. Contact us online or call toll-free at 1-800-862-1260 to schedule your free case review today! Our compassionate and experienced English- and Spanish-speaking legal staff are constantly monitoring our phones, so someone is available to speak with you 24/7.

For more information:

• PubMed
• Texas Department of Insurance