We all know that when we get into car accident with another driver, fault is assigned to one or both parties. It all comes down to who is negligent at the time of the accident. But let’s say you are driving on the highway when you hit a patch of black ice. You lose control of your car and hit a guardrail. Obviously the cause of the accident is the black ice on the road but the insurance company is refusing to pay your claim. Can they do that?
It depends on your actions at the time of the accident. Were you speeding before hitting the black ice? Did you panic behind the wheel, causing you to hit the guardrail? Were you distracted, causing you not to see the ice? Maybe your car needs new tires and that’s the reason your car slid in the first place? These are excuses your insurance company will use to deny your insurance claim.
It all comes down to whether you were driving reasonably at the time of the accident. Even the tiniest bit of negligence, such as going over the speed limit, can be used against you. This is why you need an experienced car accident attorney by your side when dealing with the insurance company.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident and the cause was bad weather, you’re going to need legal assistance. For more than 25 years, the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone has been handling car accident cases throughout New Jersey. Before submitting your claim, contact us today for a free consultation and we will get you the money that you deserve.