Although some might say winter is coming to an end now it is still very important to watch out for the weather when driving: Scotland’s weather can be unpredictable and if drivers fail to adjust their driving to the conditions it can make accidents more likely. So how exactly can adverse weather conditions affect your affect your ?
Despite the obvious that rain and fog can cause poor visibility, there are a few other things to keep in mind:
Generally, it is important to check that your car is in good condition and well maintained which includes brakes, lights, batteries, windscreens and wiper blades. In adverse weather this can be crucial to avoid accidents.
Special attention should be paid to the condition of your tyres: The minimum legal tread depth for cars is 1.6mm across the centre ¾ of the breadth of the tread around the entire circumference (1 mm for motorcycles). Check them for bulges, cuts or tears that could weaken the tyre. If found by the police failing to maintain your tyres can result in a fine up to £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points per tyre so that it is advisable to check them once a week.
Although it might be difficult it is important to stay calm and assess the situation. Talking to the other driver and getting as much evidence as possible, especially if the other driver is responsible for the accident or it is unclear what exactly happened. Information that needs to be collected if possible includes:
If not all of this evidence can be collected or if there is a dispute about liability it does not mean that there is no entitlement to claim compensation. However, it will make it much easier to deal with the consequences of an accident. When in doubt is it always advisable to contact an experienced solicitor about what to do next.
Lastly, any accident must be reported to the insurance company immediately regardless of the driver’s involvement in it or whether legal action has been taken or not. The insurance company will then try to recover any money they paid on the driver’s behalf such as repair costs. They might also refer the driver to a specific cooperating solicitor, but the driver remains free to choose any other solicitor to act on his or her behalf.
Therefore care should always be taken when driving in adverse weather to make sure accidents are avoided as much as possible.
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Please note: This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances. If you need advice on a legal matter, get in touch with our team.
