What Do Warning Signs Mean For An Auto Accident Claim?
Every driver has a responsibility to drive safely and do what they can to prevent accidents. When someone's unsafe driving causes an accident, they have an obligation to compensate anyone they hurt for their injuries. In many cases, at-fault drivers will try to claim they didn't have time to react or stop. While this excuse rarely works, having warning signs present on the road can make it work even less.
Traffic Information Billboards
Many highways and other major roads now have billboards that tell you if there is congestion or other traffic incidents up ahead. This could include that traffic has slowed down or come to a stop. When these signs are up, drivers have even less reason to say that traffic suddenly stopped in front of them and they couldn't stop in time, so their liability increases.
Similarly, these signs might warn about wet or icy roads. Drivers should always be aware of the current conditions and adjust their driving accordingly. However, sometimes road conditions may be unexpected, such as a patch of ice caused by broken sprinklers rather than recent rain. Those truly unexpected incidents might get a driver off of the hook in normal circumstances, but not when a sign was warning them.
Permanent Road Signs
Other roads have permanent signs that warn the road gets slippery when wet, often has fog, or is prone to icing. On these roads, drivers will have to use more of their own judgment to figure out if a hazard is currently present. However, the law expects that drivers do have a reasonable understanding of how weather changes the roads, and these signs provide extra warning. Therefore, a driver who disregards them could be more liable for causing an accident.
How to Use Warning Signs to Your Advantage
To prove an auto accident claim and get compensation for your injuries, you have to prove that the other driver acted negligently or recklessly. Part of that proof can include that they ignored warning signs about potential hazards.
If you or someone you know can take pictures of the signs immediately following an accident, that would be useful evidence when you go to court. If you're not able to, your attorney may be able to contact the local government to get records of what signs in the area said at the time of your accident.
To learn more about your rights after an auto accident, including receiving full compensation for your injuries, contact a local auto accident lawyer today.