Winter road conditions can be problematic, and in some cases deadly. Even those who are experienced with driving on icy and snowy roads are at risk due to the careless actions of other drivers. A car accident lawyer from Martin Wren can help protect your right to compensation after the fact, but nobody wants to be in an accident. This is never truer than when a fatality occurs.
When an accident does happen, it’s important to understand the steps to take in order to maximize the likelihood of recovering your damages. Those who suffer an injury in an accident caused by a negligent driver are usually eligible for compensation for their medical treatment. Call us today to learn more during a free consultation with our car accident lawyer. Below are tips for staying as safe as possible in winter road conditions and what to do if another driver isn’t as safe.
Tips on Avoiding Problems Driving in Winter Road Conditions
Some safety precautions are specific to the type of vehicle you’re driving, while other tips are more universal. Here are several things you can do to help you avoid problems:
- Choose quality, winter-dedicated tires rather than summer tires or even all-season radial tires.
- If you travel on roads that have an ice base, or which can develop “black ice” then consider having studs installed on the vehicle’s tires.
- If your vehicle is a lightweight pickup truck, put a 50-lb bag of sand beside each wheel well in the back to improve traction. If that is not sufficient, you may have to add more weight to the back.
- Keep your headlights clean for maximum brightness. If the bright setting on your headlights are not strong enough, consider investing in a light bar that you can install yourself or have installed by a professional.
- Use a winter version of windshield cleaner so that the fluid does not freeze.
- Use winter grade windshield wipers. These are more robust than warm weather wipers and more effective on ice and snow on the windshield.
- If your vehicle is equipped with four-wheel drive, it should have an option for driving in high range which allows you to travel at normal speed. This provides added traction on roads that are icy or snowy. (Check your vehicle’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on using four-wheel drive.)
For a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, call 434-817-3100
After a Car Accident
It’s not unusual for multi-vehicle accidents to occur during winter. This is because the road surface is often icy and/or snowy, leading to poor or no traction. Very often, using brakes when the road is icy can force the vehicle into a spin and cause the driver to lose control. When a vehicle collides with another vehicle, it may be impossible for vehicles behind or around them to avoid colliding with the primary vehicles after sliding on the pavement. For this reason, it’s very important to stay in your vehicle to minimize the risk of being hit by an out of control car or truck. In addition, keep these points in mind:
- Call 911 if any of the involved vehicles suffers more than minor damage. Be sure to get checked out by first responder EMS teams as even certain major injuries (like brain trauma) do not always present immediate symptoms.
- Get the contact information, insurance policy and vehicle license plate numbers from the at-fault driver, but only after you are located in a safe location.
- If safe to do, take photos and notes of the accident scene such as damage to vehicles, locations where they rest, and the injuries you sustained.
- Call our car accident lawyer at Martin Wren and request a free consultation to help you determine if you might benefit from legal representation.
Call 434-817-3100 or complete a Case Evaluation form
