Road Traffic Accidents in Ice & Snow

We answer the most commonly asked question regarding road traffic accidents during winter weather conditions!

Severe weather conditions at winter often make for very dangerous road conditions, which greatly increases the risk of road traffic accidents. Ice, fog, snow and sleet can reduce visibility for drivers and can cause extremely dangerous road surfaces. Although most drivers will reduce their speed when driving in these conditions, there will be a few drivers who will not consider their stopping distances and speeds for these road conditions. 

A common question that we often get asked at this time of the year is, if I, as a car owner, was struck by another vehicle that was sliding due to icy conditions, can I claim even if the accident was caused by snow or ice?

Indeed, many people believe that there are exceptions regarding accidents which do occur due to ice and snow – but this is a common misconception. It should be known that there are no special rules when road conditions deteriorate due to ice and snow. The rules of the road and standards of driving still apply, and ever road user must moderate their driving to take these conditions into account.

If a driver skids on ice, this could suggest that they have not driven in accordance with the bad conditions and they may have neglected their duty of care to other road users. In other words - they are at fault and must pay for any damage caused (or rather their insurers must). To finally answer the question, yes you should present your claim as the accident is the fault of the skidding driver.

What do I do next?

If you are asking this question and/or have been involved in an accident in which another driver skidded and lost control of their vehicle in icy conditions, you may be entitled to compensation for any injuries or damage to your vehicle. If you want to contact us to ask more questions, we are more than happy to help! Get in touch with our team here.