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St. Louis Car Accidents Caused by Sun Glare

Follow these simple tips to avoid getting into a St. Louis car accident caused by sun glare.

sun glare car accident

For those of us that like driving, there are few things nicer than hitting the road on a sunny day. Unfortunately, this joy comes with a bit of frustration: Glare. If you aren’t familiar with the term, glare refers to the exceptionally bright light coming through your windshield. Usually, a battle with glare will not result in an accident, but sometimes it does. The following prevention tips can help you avoid a St. Louis car accident caused by sun glare.

How Glare Leads to Accidents

One thing that vehicle safety experts know is that having your attention off of the road for even a couple of seconds can lead to a crash. This is the primary reason why there is such a massive campaign against texting and driving. This same philosophy can be applied to glare as well. When bright light comes through your window, your vision is temporarily compromised. In the few seconds that it is, you could make a mistake and end up in a crash. This is not an uncommon scenario either, given that experts suggest that bright sunlight conditions lead to a 16% increase in auto accidents.

Sun glare, or very bright sunlight, can either temporarily blind a driver or create an optical illusion making them see things that are not there. Either way, it’s the reactions the driver may have afterward that can usually lead to an accident.

Worst Time of Day

In the morning and at sunset, the light is at a poor angle, but it is less bright. At midday, the sun is brightest, but it is straight above your car. The most dangerous time of day for glare-related accidents is when the sun is both bright and at an unfavorable angle. This is during the late afternoon.

Worst Weather

The most common conditions that lend themselves to glare are clear, bright days. This is not always the case, though. Sometimes the sun can still shine brightly during rain or snow, which is even more unsafe. Bright light combined with a wet windshield severely lessens visibility.

Prevention Tips

Though you cannot do anything about the sunlight itself, you can do a lot to reduce how much of it you experience.

Wear Polarized Sunglasses – These special sunglasses will reduce glare and allow you to see the road better.

Use Your Visor – If the sun is in the right position, your visor is an excellent tool for blocking it entirely.

Clean Your Windshield – Dirty windshields are more susceptible to glare. Keeping yours clear will reduce glare significantly.

Replace Old Wipers – Poorly functioning wipers lead to streaks on your windshield. These streaks increase glare.

When you think of car accident causes, you probably never think of glare. While it is less of a concern than the most prominent causes, like texting or drinking and driving, it is prevalent enough to try and prevent it. If you follow the tips above, you will significantly increase your chances of safety.

Who is At-Fault in a Car Accident Caused by Sun Glare?

sun glare car accident

Establishing fault in these types of accidents is generally very difficult. Therefore, we highly recommend reaching out to an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer if you are in this situation. The Missouri law states that whoever is responsible for the accident is also liable for damages. However, in the case of sun glare collisions, it may not be a driver’s negligence that caused the crash, but an element completely out of their control.

It’s possible to argue that it was the driver’s responsibility to prepare for driving in very sunny weather (like wearing sunglasses, or placing protection on the vehicle windows), but you may also have to prove their actions had foreseeable consequences. However, since the weather isn’t entirely foreseeable, that can be a rather tough argument to make.

Another issue that will be brought into question is whether it was direct sunlight or not. In some cases, the light can reflect in the mirrors of another vehicle, with neither party being able to avoid it. The driver in the front is fixing their mirror and unknowingly reflects strong light to the driver behind, which leads to the accident. In these cases, it’s possible for neither party to be found liable.

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What Should You Do?

If you’ve been in a car accident caused by sun glare, you should contact a St. Louis car accident attorney to see if you have a case for an injury claim. An experienced lawyer can evaluate your situation and establish if you have grounds for a case or can recommend other courses of action you can take to recover compensation.

Call 24/7 for a FREE Case Evaluation :: (314) 361-4242

Updated: March 28, 2022