Bad Weather Accidents in Oklahoma City
Rain, ice, and high winds don't excuse reckless truck driving in Oklahoma City. Our attorneys prove when weather-related accidents were entirely preventable.
Oklahoma City sits at the crossroads of major interstate highways like I-35, I-40, and I-44, making it a critical hub for commercial trucking traffic from across the nation. The city's sudden ice storms, torrential downpours, and severe thunderstorms catch these out-of-state truckers off guard every day. While locals know to slow down when dark clouds roll in, commercial drivers unfamiliar with Oklahoma weather often maintain highway speeds on slick roads–– with devastating consequences.
Even when a truck driver isn’t speeding or intoxicated, failing to adjust to weather and road conditions can still be considered negligent. Under federal law, specifically 49 CFR § 392.14, commercial drivers are required to exercise extreme caution during hazardous weather. This includes reducing speed or discontinuing operations altogether when snow, ice, fog, or other conditions impair visibility or traction. If you suffered injuries in this type of collision or lost a loved one, the seasoned local truck injury lawyers at The Law Firm for Truck Safety can help you with your claim.
What Are Truck Drivers Expected To Do During Bad Weather?
Tractor-trailer drivers must be aware of two crucial things when the weather becomes inclement: visibility around and ahead of their vehicles will likely diminish, and the traction of their tires will likely change.Â
The duty of care that motorists must practice under Oklahoma and Federal law requires them to be aware of those two things and adjust their behavior accordingly–even if that means getting off the road until conditions improve.
What does this mean when it comes to civil liability for bad weather truck crashes in Oklahoma City?
It means a truck driver who fails to slow down, turn on their headlights, or do other things a reasonable trucker would do in heavy rain or thick fog has violated their duty of care. When that duty of care has been violated, the truck driver has broken the law. It’s no different than if they have been caught texting or driving while drunk. As such, if their failure to adjust their driving behavior for bad weather caused your preventable crash, their actions may be negligent and you could have grounds for a civil lawsuit.
Holding a Trucker at Fault for a Bad Weather Crash
Proving to the satisfaction of an insurance company or a civil court that a truck driver acted negligently in bad weather and caused an Oklahoma City truck wreck is difficult and requires the help of an experienced personal injury attorney. To start with, police officers do not always issue tickets to drivers for irresponsible behavior during bad weather in the same way they issue tickets for objective violations of traffic law. There may not be a record of the truck driver’s negligent actions in the accident report filed by the officers who responded to your crash.
Furthermore, eyewitness testimony and even video camera footage can be less useful when rain, snow, and fog obscure visibility. This can make it even harder to establish exactly how and why a wreck occurred. This is where your truck accident lawyer comes in. If you hire our law firm to handle your claim, At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, we are well-versed in recovering for families when bad weather played a role in their crash, and we would be honored to help you navigate the road to justice and recovery.
Call Our Oklahoma City Attorney After a Bad Weather Truck Collision
Local speed limits, traffic patterns, and other rules concerning motor vehicle travel were largely created for good weather conditions and not for the extreme changes in traction and visibility that inclement weather can produce. Our lawyers have considerable experience handling truck wreck cases involving bad weather truck accidents in Oklahoma City. If you suffered injuries in a crash or lost a loved one because of a negligent truck driver’s misconduct, we could help you seek fair financial restitution for all the ways you’ve been harmed. Call The Law Firm for Truck Safety today to discuss your legal options.
