Spring brings many benefits to our days, including more sunlight. On the roadways heading into and out of town, though, that sun creates a dangerous condition called sun glare. If you are on the roadway, and the sun is incredibly bright as it comes up in the morning, it’s easy to become blinded.
When that happens, the risk of an accident rises. What happens when someone strikes you because they could not see the road conditions in front of them? Knowing your options in these situations is critical. That is why you need to speak with a Philadelphia car accident lawyer at Kwartler Manus as soon as possible after a crash involving sun glare.
The Danger of Sun Glare on Roadways
Sun glare makes it far more challenging to see the road ahead. Some data, reported by AAA, found that sun glare increases the risk of a crash by 16%. That’s because it:
- Creates temporary blindness. The intense bright light makes it impossible for your eyes to see what’s in front of you. Your eyes cannot dilate properly to see.
- That reduces visibility. That means the drivers around you cannot see the obstacles in the roadways or your vehicle in the lane next to them.
- Bright light like this also slows reaction time. You may be unable to stop quickly enough or move out of a vehicle's path.
- Intersections become highly dangerous. It can be more challenging to turn into and out of intersections safely.
- Driving over hills or along curves approaching the east in the morning or the west in the evening can be blinding. The risk of not knowing what is over the hill can cause you to slow down, and that means another driver may strike you.
Sun glare is worst during the early morning and late night hours, especially at sunrise and sunset. That blinding effect can be dangerous to anyone on the road, especially to someone sharing the road with you.
Who Is at Fault if Sun Glare Causes a Car Accident?
Sun glare is a condition that impacts a driver’s ability to see well. However, every driver is responsible for operating their vehicle safely. If a driver cannot do that, they should not be driving. As a result, the same rules of the road apply to these situations.
If a driver hits you and they violate the law, they are responsible for your injuries and losses. If you strike another vehicle because you could not see it, that is your responsibility, and you must pay for the losses incurred.
A full investigation is critical in these cases to determine who is at fault. That includes gathering as much information as possible about what could have been done to avoid the situation.
What to Do After a Sun Glare Accident
Victims involved in an accident in which sun glare is a concern need to know how to respond to changing conditions and what steps to take to protect themselves. If you are in a car accident, pull to the side of the road, call 911, and wait for help. When it is safe, take these steps:
- Get contact information. Get the name and contact information of the other driver. Do not make any statement that you did not see them or that you are sorry. Take a photo of their driver’s license and insurance card.
- Take photos of the road conditions and the sun. Document this with a video if you can. Capture the layout of where both cars were at the time of the accident.
- Take photos of the damage to your vehicle and the surrounding area to showcase any debris in the roadway. Take photos of the damage to the other vehicle as well as any injuries you have.
- If any witnesses stopped to help, get their name and contact information. Ask them to tell you what they saw the other driver do before or after the accident.
- Get medical care immediately. Get a full check-up to make sure there are no unknown injuries and losses.
Each of these steps helps protect you from being blamed for the accident. Remember, the at-fault driver is the one who struck the other, violated the law, or otherwise created unsafe conditions. It is your responsibility to demonstrate who that is and why you believe they are at fault through evidence.
Hire an Attorney Immediately
If you have serious injuries and damage to your vehicle, hire a car accident lawyer to guide you. At Kwartler Manus, we provide a free consultation to review what occurred and discuss your legal options. When you meet with us, we will:
- Investigate the case to determine what additional evidence is available
- Gather more information about your losses and injuries
- File a claim on your behalf and fight the insurance company for fair compensation.
Set up a free consultation with our car accident lawyer now. At Kwartler Mansus, we are the reliable resource you need when you suffer serious injuries and losses due to the mistakes of others. You do not pay us anything up front. Let us help you demonstrate who is at fault and what your current compensation rights are.