5 Winter Hazards That Commonly Cause Injuries
A report by USA Today revealed that nearly 800 people died in the US between 2011 and 2015 because of winter hazards. These fatalities occurred because of accidents and injuries resulting from rain, snow, sleet, and ice. Use of defensive driving techniques is a good way to avoid a winter car accident but sometimes the weather hazards make an accident practically unavoidable. Here’s a look at five winter hazards that commonly cause injuries…
Winter Hazards on the Roads in New York City
1. Poorly Maintained Vehicles
Vehicle maintenance and regular tune-ups are essential for year-round driving safety. Unfortunately, too many drivers don’t maintain their vehicles and while it might save money, it greatly increases the chance of an accident. One of the biggest issues related to vehicle maintenance and winter months has to do with tires. When the temperature drops, so does the pressure in tires which can lead to an acceleration of wear on the tread and ultimately cause major and minor accidents.
2. Distracted Driving
Distracted driving becomes infinitely more dangerous during winter weather conditions. Poor visibility, icy roads, and the potential for losing control due to heavy snow or black ice leave zero margin for drowsy driving, impaired driving, texting, and other reckless behavior. Driver’s coordination, ability to concentrate, reaction time, and judgment are severely affected by distracted driving.
3. Speeding
Speeding on icy or snowy roads causes more accidents than in warmer months because it takes significantly longer for cars to stop in these conditions. Driving too fast for the winter road conditions can not only cause car-on-car accidents, but also fishtailing and sliding off the road and into property.
4. Crowding Snow Plows
Crowding snow plows in your wintertime commute causes more accidents than you think. Every year, drivers are reminded by the NHTSA to avoid traveling next to these vehicles. This is because they make frequent stops, wide turns, and exit the roadways by overlapping lanes. Drivers should slow down and exercise caution when passing snow plows instead of rushing alongside or speeding past them.
5. Spin out Accidents
It is easy to lose control of your car when the roads are slick, no matter how cautious or slow you are driving. It is important to pay attention to local weather and receive road updates during the winter months and ultimately, you should avoid traveling during a snow emergency. Spin out accidents not only greatly increase the chance of a crash, but can also leave you stranded if the weather is particularly bad and difficult for emergency vehicles to respond quickly.
Speak to a Seasoned New York City Car Accident Lawyer
It is stressful to drive during the winter season in New York. The decisions you make following your auto accident and injury are crucial to your recovering compensation. You should speak with a dedicated car accident attorney as soon as possible if you or a loved one was recently injured.
Let the qualified and dedicated winter car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff guide your best interests. Call us today at 212-962-1020 or use our online form for scheduling a free consultation.