Rare november storms and drizzle in San Diego can affect life in many ways. The windshield wipers of your car screech across the glass, leaving smears instead of clear visibility. You may have planned to replace the windshield wiper, but then forgot about it. The reduced visibility can cause a serious accident, as you didn’t see a pedestrian clearly. The $15 maintenance item has now become a six-figure lawsuit.
Windshield wipers are a minor thing that can cause serious accidents. In San Diego’s unique climatic patterns and legal landscapes, neglecting the small fixes can lead to catastrophic consequences.
- The wiper problem is leading to legal liability
Most people drive with terrible windshield wipers. When the rubber is broken, it leaves streaks or partially clears the windscreen. A decent pair costs around $20-40, and installation is free at any auto parts store. Since wipers technically work, most of us ignore replacing them until something serious happens.
When it rains, there is not just water on the windscreen. There are months of accumulated dirt, oil, and grime that create a slick mess. The wipers try to eliminate these, leading to smearing, zero visibility, and accidents.
California law requires drivers to maintain their vehicles in safe operating conditions, including windscreen wipers. When an accident happens in rain or fog, and your car’s wipers are inadequate, the other driver’s attorney has great evidence of negligence. According to a San Diego car accident attorney, a legal chain of events follows the accident.
You breached the duty of properly maintaining your car’s safety as you drove with worn-out and ineffective wipers. Impaired visibility led to an accident that caused serious injury to others. The wiper negligence makes you partially or fully liable.
- Bike, motorcyclist, and pedestrian risk in San Diego
San Diego is pedestrian and cyclist-friendly, and it has a large motorcycle community. During rain, it becomes difficult to spot pedestrians, cyclists, and bikers. Most of them wear dark rain gear or carry umbrellas to keep themselves dry.
A driver with a visibly worn wiper streaks right in the line of sight, misses the pedestrian or biker, and causes an accident. With inadequate wipers, the liability claim will be strong. Obscured visibility due to poor wipers is not a defense: it shows your negligence.
- The insurance problem
Even if you are not sued personally, the insurance company will investigate the matter. If they find you have a fault, they will increase your premiums dramatically. Or, they can deny part of the claim, and may even cancel your policy. Talk to your car accident attorney at hhjtrialattorneys.com and arrange a quick fix for your wipers. Replace them if needed and keep a close watch on them every 6-12 months.
Final thoughts
A lawsuit over windshield wipers that is over thousands of dollars may sound too much. However, when you drive a car with impaired visibility due to wiper issues and cause an accident, you have to pay for it. Instead, get the problem fixed for just $20-40 and avoid all legal hassles and liabilities.