DC Car Accidents in Bad Weather
In the DC area, residents have all four seasons. So, one season that makes the roads most susceptible to car accidents is the winter season. And not only do you have ice, which of course can be slippery. But you also have salt being put down by the government to melt the ice, which creates potholes which may create a hazardous situation for motorists. This leads to DC car accidents in bad weather.
If you or a loved one were injured in an automobile crash due to hazardous weather, you should reach out to seasoned car accident attorney, Roger Gelb. Roger Gelb could help you determine the steps to take following Washington DC car accidents involving bad weather.
Initial Steps To Take After An Auto Collision
Immediately following a car crash, it is best to check and see if anyone needs medical attention. If anybody’s injured, then the first thing they need to do is make sure that that is addressed. That would be addressed through calling an ambulance. But if the injury is not severe enough to warrant an ambulance, then again, exchanging information may be sufficient.
Additionally, as in any accident, once an accident occurs, the drivers of the different vehicles should exchange information. More important than a police report, it is important that the driver who is not at fault get the information of the at-fault driver. That includes their name, address, and insurance information.
What Types of Damages Are Recoverable Following an Accident Involving Hazardous Weather?
A person in an accident that is a result of somebody else’s negligence may be able to receive to reimbursement of any reasonable medical expenses. Lost wages and pain and suffering. They are also entitled to property damage reimbursement, as well as loss of use included, which may be for a rental car. A knowledgeable attorney could help determine what type of damages are available after a bad weather car accident in DC.
Wet Road Car Accidents in Washington, DC
If you or someone close to you has suffered injuries in a wet road accident, experienced Washington, D.C. car accident lawyer Roger Gelb and the team at Gelb & Gelb can help. Recognized as a top personal injury lawyer in the Washington D.C. area, Mr. Gelb has successfully recovered millions of dollars for injured individuals as well as their loved ones. When a driver fails to exercise the necessary care under the circumstances—whether these involve weather, road hazards, or other issues—they become legally accountable if their conduct results in an accident that harms others. Our firm focuses on helping auto accident victims, and throughout their legal representation, clients interact directly with Attorney Gelb. Our firm is proud to represent people in the District of Columbia.
Asserting a Negligence Claim Following a Wet Road Accident

After a DC car accident in bad weather, victims may file a personal injury claim to recover damages for their injuries and accident-related costs. Many of these claims are based on negligence, which is a legal theory that can be used to hold people accountable when they fail to exhibit the required level of care for the circumstances. As a plaintiff in a personal injury claim, an accident victim alleging negligence must prove the elements of duty, breach, causation, and damages. Evidence must persuade the judge or jury that the defendant’s conduct directly caused the accident, and led to resulting harm.
All drivers owe others the duty to take precautions on the road in order to avoid a collision. Wet roads often result from weather conditions that require drivers to adjust their speed and driving behavior. A driver that disregards the speed limit or tailgates during a rainstorm is deemed to be breaching their duty of care. Speeding on a wet road places others at risk of injury, and the driver is held legally responsible if they cause a crash.
The Causation Element
Causation in a DC car accident in bad weather may be shown by evidence that if the defendant hadn’t breached their duty of care, the accident would not have occurred. In the above example, a driver who speeds on a wet road, loses control of their vehicle, and collides with the plaintiff’s car likely meets the element of causation.
In some lawsuits, a defendant may claim that the plaintiff contributed to their own injuries because they did not act with the level of care required for the situation. By asserting the doctrine of contributory negligence, a defendant can try to limit or prevent the plaintiff’s recovery if they are deemed more than fifty percent at fault. Attorney Roger Gelb can assess the facts of your case and determine the strength of any assertions of contributory negligence.
Proving Economic and Non-Economic Damages for Wet Road Accidents
The final step in a negligence claim is setting forth damages. Financial recovery for all harm, including economic and non-economic costs, should place the victim in the position they would be in if the accident never occurs. Economic damages following an accident can include amounts for medical care, hospital stays, future costs of treatment, and physical therapy. Additionally, when an injured victim is unable to return to their former vocation and suffers lost earning capacity or lost wages from missed work, these costs may be recovered. A skilled attorney can help to assess costs available for emotional pain and suffering and other non-economic costs. Psychological effects from an accident may extend to depression, and a general reduced quality of life.
Legally, accident victims have the right to hold drivers accountable for careless conduct that directly causes harm. Attorney Roger Gelb takes pride in working to provide a sense of justice to car accident victims and their families. At Gelb & Gelb, our goal is to recover full compensation for those hurt by the negligent conduct of others.
Preventing a Bad Weather Accident
Drive defensively would be the best idea. For example, if a driver’s out on the road and the roads are icy, avoid driving. Additionally, to avoid a collision, make sure that there is enough space between the vehicles on the road. Drivers cannot control how much space is behind them. The driver would have to rely on that trailing vehicle’s driver to have good judgement to avoid that collision. But in order to avoid other collisions, colliding with other vehicles or objects or guard rails or anything else, simply driving at a slower than the posted speed limit. Last, drivers should ensure they have ample opportunity to stop to avoid a crash.
Contact Gelb & Gelb Today
There are many ways an attorney could help after a car crash involving hazardous weather. A seasoned attorney could also ensure that the claimant has follow-up treatment options available for them and ensures their medical bills are paid. A lawyer could make sure the claimant recovers full compensation for their damages. Contact Gelb & Gelb, P.C. to discuss DC car accidents involving bad weather.

In the DC area, residents have all four seasons. So, one season that makes the roads most susceptible to car accidents is the winter season. And not only do you have ice, which of course can be slippery. But you also have salt being put down by the government to melt the ice, which creates potholes which may create a hazardous situation for motorists. This leads to DC car accidents in bad weather.
If you or a loved one were injured in an automobile crash due to hazardous weather, you should reach out to seasoned car accident attorney, Roger Gelb. Roger Gelb could help you determine the steps to take following Washington DC car accidents involving bad weather.
Initial Steps To Take After An Auto Collision
Immediately following a car crash, it is best to check and see if anyone needs medical attention. If anybody’s injured, then the first thing they need to do is make sure that that is addressed. That would be addressed through calling an ambulance. But if the injury is not severe enough to warrant an ambulance, then again, exchanging information may be sufficient.
Additionally, as in any accident, once an accident occurs, the drivers of the different vehicles should exchange information. More important than a police report, it is important that the driver who is not at fault get the information of the at-fault driver. That includes their name, address, and insurance information.
What Types of Damages Are Recoverable Following an Accident Involving Hazardous Weather?
A person in an accident that is a result of somebody else’s negligence may be able to receive to reimbursement of any reasonable medical expenses. Lost wages and pain and suffering. They are also entitled to property damage reimbursement, as well as loss of use included, which may be for a rental car. A knowledgeable attorney could help determine what type of damages are available after a bad weather car accident in DC.
Wet Road Car Accidents in Washington, DC
If you or someone close to you has suffered injuries in a wet road accident, experienced Washington, D.C. car accident lawyer Roger Gelb and the team at Gelb & Gelb can help. Recognized as a top personal injury lawyer in the Washington D.C. area, Mr. Gelb has successfully recovered millions of dollars for injured individuals as well as their loved ones. When a driver fails to exercise the necessary care under the circumstances—whether these involve weather, road hazards, or other issues—they become legally accountable if their conduct results in an accident that harms others. Our firm focuses on helping auto accident victims, and throughout their legal representation, clients interact directly with Attorney Gelb. Our firm is proud to represent people in the District of Columbia.
Asserting a Negligence Claim Following a Wet Road Accident

After a DC car accident in bad weather, victims may file a personal injury claim to recover damages for their injuries and accident-related costs. Many of these claims are based on negligence, which is a legal theory that can be used to hold people accountable when they fail to exhibit the required level of care for the circumstances. As a plaintiff in a personal injury claim, an accident victim alleging negligence must prove the elements of duty, breach, causation, and damages. Evidence must persuade the judge or jury that the defendant’s conduct directly caused the accident, and led to resulting harm.
All drivers owe others the duty to take precautions on the road in order to avoid a collision. Wet roads often result from weather conditions that require drivers to adjust their speed and driving behavior. A driver that disregards the speed limit or tailgates during a rainstorm is deemed to be breaching their duty of care. Speeding on a wet road places others at risk of injury, and the driver is held legally responsible if they cause a crash.
The Causation Element
Causation in a DC car accident in bad weather may be shown by evidence that if the defendant hadn’t breached their duty of care, the accident would not have occurred. In the above example, a driver who speeds on a wet road, loses control of their vehicle, and collides with the plaintiff’s car likely meets the element of causation.
In some lawsuits, a defendant may claim that the plaintiff contributed to their own injuries because they did not act with the level of care required for the situation. By asserting the doctrine of contributory negligence, a defendant can try to limit or prevent the plaintiff’s recovery if they are deemed more than fifty percent at fault. Attorney Roger Gelb can assess the facts of your case and determine the strength of any assertions of contributory negligence.
Proving Economic and Non-Economic Damages for Wet Road Accidents
The final step in a negligence claim is setting forth damages. Financial recovery for all harm, including economic and non-economic costs, should place the victim in the position they would be in if the accident never occurs. Economic damages following an accident can include amounts for medical care, hospital stays, future costs of treatment, and physical therapy. Additionally, when an injured victim is unable to return to their former vocation and suffers lost earning capacity or lost wages from missed work, these costs may be recovered. A skilled attorney can help to assess costs available for emotional pain and suffering and other non-economic costs. Psychological effects from an accident may extend to depression, and a general reduced quality of life.
Legally, accident victims have the right to hold drivers accountable for careless conduct that directly causes harm. Attorney Roger Gelb takes pride in working to provide a sense of justice to car accident victims and their families. At Gelb & Gelb, our goal is to recover full compensation for those hurt by the negligent conduct of others.
Preventing a Bad Weather Accident
Drive defensively would be the best idea. For example, if a driver’s out on the road and the roads are icy, avoid driving. Additionally, to avoid a collision, make sure that there is enough space between the vehicles on the road. Drivers cannot control how much space is behind them. The driver would have to rely on that trailing vehicle’s driver to have good judgement to avoid that collision. But in order to avoid other collisions, colliding with other vehicles or objects or guard rails or anything else, simply driving at a slower than the posted speed limit. Last, drivers should ensure they have ample opportunity to stop to avoid a crash.
Contact Gelb & Gelb Today
There are many ways an attorney could help after a car crash involving hazardous weather. A seasoned attorney could also ensure that the claimant has follow-up treatment options available for them and ensures their medical bills are paid. A lawyer could make sure the claimant recovers full compensation for their damages. Contact Gelb & Gelb, P.C. to discuss DC car accidents involving bad weather.

Reviewed by: Roger K. Gelb, Esq. | Managing Partner | 10,000 Clients | 34 Years of Experience