Driving out during snowy conditions always presents natural dangers, but it's often necessary for work, school, or food. When an accident occurs in winter weather, it may seem like it's the driver's fault, but that is not always the case. During hazardous driving conditions, there are many factors that can come into play. An accident lawyer can help determine what exactly was at fault and if you have a potential case.

The following five examples are all ways that car accidents can occur when it is not your fault. If any of these road hazards present themselves, then you should seek legal advice to try and achieve proper compensation.

Potholes

During the winter, snow, ice, and freezing temperatures can often create large potholes in the road. If these potholes are left untreated for several days then it can cause damage to your vehicle and a possible accident. Depending on where the pothole is located, the blame for the accident can be placed against state or town services.

Along with seeking compensation from your insurance company, an auto accident attorney can seek a settlement from state and town governments too. Your case could be made even stronger if the pothole was previously reported and nothing was done about it.

Snow on Cars

Other drivers on the road have a personal responsibility to properly clear snow off their cars. In many winter states, this is a law and could result in fines if not done properly. Along with the fines, drivers who leave snow on cars, are creating a number of hazards for other drivers. The following hazards can occur and possibly be the cause of your accident.

• Covered Headlights: Snow-covered headlights may prevent other drivers from properly seeing a car. This could cause rear collisions or additional problems at stoplights.
• Snow Drifts: When a vehicle drives with snow on the roof, that snow may eventually slide off and onto the road. These patches of snow can create slippery areas that a car slides on. The snow could also blow straight back into another windshield. This could blind the driver's view and cause an accident.
• Ice Chunks: Along with snow, pieces of ice should be removed from cars too. Ice chunks have the ability to fly off and smash right through a windshield. Not only can this cause windshield cracks, but it could cause a driver a swerve and lose control of the vehicle. It's small details like this that make a huge difference with a car accident case.

Improper Signage

Winter weather creates messes all over the roads. This can include a process known as frost heaving. When snow melts and gets under payment, it can freeze again and lift up to create large bumps. After a while, these bumps can become dangerous for drivers and should be properly labeled with a warning sign. When these signs are not present, you could easily round a corner, hit a bump, and lose control of the vehicle.

Signs should also indicate areas prone to flooding and deep slush after snowstorms. Without the warning signs, cars can easily lose control as they glide over large puddles of over. These warnings should last for weeks until all the snow has melted.

Plow Interference

Snow plows are great for clearing off snow on the roads, but they can also be the cause of an accident you're involved in. There are many reasons that a plow can cause an accident. If a plow is hanging over your lane, you may be forced to swerve and could lose control of the vehicle. A plow may also push snow, slush, or ice into your lane. If this occurs, it's important to obtain as much information as possible. This includes the exact time the accident occurred and a detailed description of the plow truck.

School Bus Accidents

Even if you decide you stay off the road during winter weather, your children could be harmed during a school bus accident.  Many people could be at fault for injuries to your children during a school bus accident.

The driver of the bus may have been driving recklessly in the snow. The school may have made a bad decision to open the school during bad weather. Another driver could have crashed into the school bus. An auto accident attorney can gather all the details of a case and determine whether your child needs representation.

Consult with an attorney for any type of accident and you click here for more info. It's important to know your rights and options while moving forward.