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Do Dirty Windshields Increase the Risk of a California Car Crash?

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in
image of a car windshield covered in bird droppingsDirty windshields and windows do more than make your vehicle look ugly. They block your visibility in many ways, increasing your risk of a Sacramento car crash. Below, Arnold Law Firm discusses how grime and dirt buildup on your vehicle is dangerous. We also talk about liability if driving with a dirty windshield leads to a crash. Need legal help because of another driver’s negligence? Call Arnold Law Firm to discuss your situation with one of our knowledgeable car crash lawyers in Sacramento. We have been helping injured clients for decades get favorable outcomes. Our legal team has extensive experience and is ready to fight to get the full and fair compensation you need.

Request your FREE case review today. (916) 777-7777

5 Ways Driving With Dirty Windows Is a Car Crash Risk

Anything that makes it difficult for you to see the road and surrounding areas clearly is a car crash risk. When you are behind the wheel, there are several ways this could happen. Here are five:
  • Delays your reaction time: Seconds make a difference in whether you can avoid a crash.
  • Increases the glare from sunlight, snow reflections or oncoming headlights
  • Worsens already reduced visibility in low light and bad weather situations
  • Obscures your ability to see in your blind spots, causing you to collide with another vehicle
  • Could cause you to miss or misread road signs, traffic signals and detour or work zone signs

How Do Windshields and Windows Get So Dirty?

There are so many environmental elements that cause our vehicles and windows to get dirty. Even a day’s worth of dust can create enough of a haze to cause severe sun glare. The biggest culprits you have to thank for dirty windshields include:

Bird Droppings and Bugs

Ever get your car washed only to have it dive-bombed with bird droppings the next day? Smashed-on bugs are also a big problem, and window washer fluid is enough to clear these messes away without scrubbing.

Airborne Particles

Bird droppings and elements are not the only environmental factors that dirty up your car windows. Pollen, road grime, mud, pollen and other elements can create a haze of dirt on your car that greatly decreases your visibility, especially during bright sunlight, bad weather and low light.

Bad Weather

Snowfall does not happen often in Sacramento, but it is not completely impossible. Any type of bad weather on top of an already dirty window can make it harder to see the road.

Understanding Your Duty of Care to Maintain Clean Windows

Drivers in California have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to prevent causing harm to others. This legal duty applies to vehicle maintenance. Since a dirty windshield or windows can increase your risk of a crash, your legal duty extends to ensuring you have optimum visibility behind the wheel. This means drivers should regularly:
  • Clean dirt, grime, bugs and other elements from their windshields
  • Ensure all windows are regularly cleaned, inside and out – a dirty rear window can also create a crash risk
  • Make sure side windows, rearview mirrors, headlights and taillights are also cleaned regularly.
  • Check windshield washer fluid periodically to make sure it stays full
  • Clean their windshield or windows before setting off if they are excessively dirty
  • Replace worn wiper blades as needed
  • Park your vehicle away from trees, such as in a garage or carport

Is It Illegal To Drive With Dirty Windshields in California?

While there is no specific law against driving with dirty windows or windshields in California, it is a crash risk. Additionally, the California driver’s ed handbook cautions drivers about the reasons for keeping windows, windshields and side mirrors clean. If there is enough dirt or grime built up on your windows or windshields, you could get pulled over. If your vehicle’s dirty windows impede your vision enough to cause a crash, you could be held at least partially liable for any resulting damages.

Need Legal Help After a Sacramento Car Crash? Call Arnold Law Firm Today

If you or a loved one were injured in a crash due to reduced visibility, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your medical costs and other losses. At Arnold Law Firm, you can find out if you may have legal options at no cost or risk to you. If you have a case and choose our firm to represent you, there are no upfront costs or fees to pay. Our law firm has been helping those injured by negligent Sacramento drivers for decades. We have the staff and resources to build a solid case on your behalf. Deadlines apply, so if you were injured in a crash, we strongly recommend seeking legal help sooner rather than later.

We fight for justice for you in Sacramento. Call: (916) 777-7777 today.

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.