Weather-Related Crashes and Personal Injury Liability
Heavy hail along the 210 Freeway yesterday contributed to a number of Los Angeles car accidents from Sunland to Altadena. Several motorists were taken to the hospital after the CHP reported two accidents in Sunland (one near the Sunland Avenue exit and one by the Osborne Street exit), two accidents in La Canada Flintridge (one near the Foothill Avenue exit and one near the Angeles Crest Highway) and one in a Forest Service area near Little Tujunga Road. All of the accidents were reported during a bout of hail between 2 and 3 p.m. on April 12th.
Although the CHP often says accidents are caused by the weather, this is not entirely true. More accurately, the accidents are caused by one or more drivers not driving safely given the weather conditions. Hail, rain, snow, and fog all reduce visibility, and when it is raining, braking distances are increased. In wet conditions, even driving at the speed limit can be dangerous. Cars have less grip on the road, and you will need more time to stop. The decreased visibility means it will take longer to spot other motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Driving in the rain at night can further limit visibility.
If you have been injured in a crash that was not your fault, regardless of what the weather conditions were at the time of the accident, you may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault party. For more information about weather-related accidents and personal injury claims, contact the Los Angeles auto accident lawyers at Estey Bomberger for a free, no-obligation consultation of your legal rights.
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