Weather is a major factor in road safety, especially for large commercial trucks.
Even mild rain, fog, snow, or wind can turn routine driving into a serious hazard—and complicate questions of legal responsibility.
Truck drivers must be trained to adapt to these conditions, yet many accidents happen because of poor decisions or company negligence.
Proving liability in weather-related crashes is challenging, but with fast action and deep legal knowledge, it’s possible to hold the right parties accountable.
At Finch McCranie LLP, we’ve spent over 50 years representing victims in complex truck accident cases, including those involving dangerous weather. We know how to uncover negligence others often overlook.
The True Impact of Weather on Truck Crashes
Commercial trucks are not just larger—they behave differently in adverse conditions.
An 80,000-pound vehicle does not stop easily, swerve quickly, or handle the way a passenger vehicle does. When roads are slick or visibility is low, this difference becomes deadly.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires drivers to adjust their speed and behavior based on weather, traffic, and road conditions.
Failure to do so, even in poor weather, can still constitute negligence. In fact, bad weather doesn’t excuse a crash—it demands greater caution from drivers and the companies that employ them.
Common Weather-Related Hazards in Trucking Accidents
Slippery Surfaces
Ice, snow, and rain all decrease traction, which makes it much more difficult for trucks to stop or drive safely.
Rear-end collisions, rollovers, and jackknife assaults are far more likely.
Drivers are expected to reduce speed, increase following distance, and adjust braking.
Failing to take these precautions may be considered negligence under both state and federal trucking laws.
Reduced Visibility
Visibility is severely reduced by fog, sleet, and heavy rain, sometimes to a few feet.
Truck drivers must slow down, use headlights or hazard lights, and stay highly alert.
Driving too fast or failing to use proper lighting can lead to catastrophic crashes and may violate transportation safety regulations.
High Winds
Strong gusts can push high-profile trucks off course or cause tip-overs, especially in open areas, bridges, or mountainous terrain.
Drivers must monitor wind advisories, reduce speed, and secure loads. Trucking companies that fail to train drivers or dispatch them into known wind hazards may be held liable.
Hydroplaning and Standing Water
The car may hydroplane when its tires lose contact with the road amid standing water, particularly when traveling at high speeds.
Underinflated or worn tires increase this danger.
Trucking companies have a duty to maintain safe equipment, and failure to conduct regular tire inspections can result in shared liability for any resulting crash.
Snow Drifts and Ice Patches
Black ice and drifting snow—especially on overpasses, bridges, or shaded curves—can lead to sudden skids or loss of control.
These “micro-climates” require drivers to reduce speed and brake gently.
Failure to recognize and respond to these conditions may be considered driver error or poor judgment under safety standards.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Weather-Related Truck Accident?
Several careless parties are frequently involved in truck accidents. While weather might be a contributing factor, it does not absolve responsible actors of their duty of care.
The Truck Driver
When weather conditions make driving dangerous, drivers are legally obligated to slow down, increase following distance, and in severe situations, get off the road.
If a driver fails to adjust to conditions or ignores safety regulations, they may be held directly liable.
The Trucking Company
Many companies pressure drivers to meet tight delivery schedules—even in dangerous weather.
If a company failed to provide adequate training, neglected vehicle maintenance, or incentivized risky behavior, they may share liability.
Maintenance Contractors
A trucking company might outsource brake inspections, tire replacements, or windshield wiper maintenance.
If failure to perform these services properly contributed to the crash, the contractor can be held accountable.
Vehicle or Equipment Manufacturers
Defective brakes, tires, or safety systems that fail during poor weather can lead to catastrophic loss.
In such cases, product liability claims may be brought against the manufacturer.
Government or Municipal Entities
In some accidents, liability may extend to a local authority that failed to plow roads, repair potholes, or properly drain roadways—especially if the hazard was documented but ignored.
Mistakes Victims Make After a Weather-Related Truck Accident
Victims of truck crashes often make decisions early on that can damage their case—especially when weather is involved. Here are the most common errors:
- Failing to seek immediate medical attention. Although injuries might not seem severe at first, postponing treatment compromises your health and your ability to make a claim in court.
- Speaking with insurance companies before consulting an attorney. To establish culpability, photographs of the scene, weather reports, car damage, and road conditions are necessary.
- Assuming bad weather means “no one’s at fault.” Insurance companies may try to dismiss the accident as an “act of God.” In reality, most weather-related crashes result from someone’s failure to drive responsibly in adverse conditions.
- Not preserving evidence.Liability must be established using road conditions, vehicle damage, weather reports, and photos of the site.
- Posting about the crash on social media. Insurance adjusters routinely monitor online activity for anything they can use to discredit a claim.
Avoiding these pitfalls is critical. The sooner a legal team steps in, the better the chance of protecting evidence, reconstructing the accident, and proving fault—even when nature played a role.
How Finch McCranie Builds a Strong Weather-Related Truck Accident Case
Weather-related crashes require detailed investigations, swift action, and specialized experts.
At Finch McCranie, our legal team immediately gets to work using a strategy honed over decades.
Preserving and Analyzing Evidence
We secure black box (event data recorder) information, dispatch logs, maintenance records, and driver histories.
We also analyze road cameras, dash cams, and any witness statements—crucial in understanding driver behavior before and during the crash.
Working with Experts
We consult accident reconstructionists, meteorologists, and commercial driving experts to assess how weather impacted the crash—and whether proper precautions were taken.
Expert opinions can be critical in court or settlement discussions.
Identifying All Liable Parties
Many firms stop at the driver. We dig deeper—into trucking company policies, training standards, equipment service records, and third-party relationships. Often, multiple entities share responsibility.
Evaluating Long-Term Damages
We work with economists, physicians, and rehabilitation specialists to calculate the full extent of damages: ongoing care, lost earnings, emotional trauma, and reduced quality of life.
Why Weather Should Never Excuse Negligence
Although the weather cannot be controlled, how we react to it is. Every driver has a duty to operate their vehicle safely under current conditions.
That duty becomes heightened in snow, fog, or rain. Trucking companies and drivers alike are expected to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to poor weather.
When they don’t—and someone is hurt—they must be held accountable.
Finch McCranie has built its legacy on representing victims of severe negligence, especially in high-stakes trucking cases.
We understand what’s at stake: your recovery, your financial security, and your future.
How Finch McCranie LLP Can Help
With over five decades of experience handling catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims, Finch McCranie LLP brings deep knowledge, resources, and dedication to every truck accident case.
We are not a volume-based law firm. We handle fewer cases on purpose—so we can give each one the strategic focus and personal attention it deserves.
Our clients benefit from:
- Direct access to trial lawyers with expertise in state and federal trucking cases.
- Comprehensive investigation and expert consultation to uncover hidden liability.
- Aggressive advocacy and negotiation skills, ensuring insurance companies don’t lowball compensation.
- Trial readiness we’re prepared to take your case to court if that’s what it takes to achieve justice.
- Unless we are paid, you don’t pay anything.
The Path to Justice Begins with Action
If you or someone you love has been injured in a weather-related truck accident, time is not on your side.
Evidence disappears quickly. Witness memories fade. Insurance companies start working against you immediately.
Finch McCranie LLP may act as your advocate, your voice, and your guard. Our trucking accident attorneys have the experience and dedication to help you navigate the aftermath of a catastrophic collision—no matter how complex the circumstances.
We don’t just build cases. We fight for futures.
FAQ’s
Can truck drivers be held liable even if the crash happened during bad weather?
Yes. Bad weather does not excuse negligence. Drivers are required by law to adjust their speed and driving based on road and weather conditions.
What if the trucking company pressured the driver to meet deadlines despite dangerous conditions?
Trucking companies can be held liable if they ignored weather warnings, failed to train drivers, or pushed unrealistic delivery schedules.
How quickly should I contact a lawyer after a weather-related truck accident?
Immediately. Time-sensitive evidence like black box data, road conditions, and eyewitness accounts can be lost if not preserved quickly.
What evidence is most important in a weather-related trucking crash?
Weather reports, dashcam footage, maintenance records, black box data, and witness statements are all crucial to proving negligence.
Do I have to pay upfront to hire Finch McCranie LLP?
No. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win compensation for you.