Winter Weather Car Accidents

Severe weather that results in dangerous road conditions for motorists is a common occurrence during the winter in Pennsylvania. When negligence and carelessness are added to the equation it can result in serious personal injuries.

Wintery conditions such as snow, ice, sleet, and slush on the roads lead to an increase in crash risk. To compensate for these conditions, drivers must take extra precautions to avoid causing car accidents. However, no matter how careful you are in handling the wintery road conditions other drivers can be careless by failing to adjust their driving for the dangerous conditions. The carelessness of drivers can mean bad news for other motorists. Bad road conditions do not excuse a person from being liable for injuries they caused through their careless driving and decision making.

Each year over 1,300 people are killed and more than 116,800 people are injured in vehicle crashes on snowy, slushy or icy covered roads and nearly 900 people are killed and nearly 76,000 people are injured in vehicle crashes during snowfall or sleet. (According to the Federal Highway Administration)

Winter weather accidents can present some difficulties for drivers who were injured. It can be difficult to decide who is liable when the roads are covered in snow and ice.

In order to keep yourself and others as safe as possible, and to not be held “at fault” for an accident in winter conditions, we recommend a few simple tricks to avoid accidents on slippery surfaces.

Accelerating and braking slowly and gradually will help stop your car from sliding from side to side. You should definitely drive slow, even under the speed limit. This is especially important when you are driving down a hill as even a slow moving car can slide a long distance on a hill. Due to this, make sure you leave plenty of space between yourself and any cars in front of you so that if they stop and you are on a slick surface, you will have room to stop as well.

Small things can count too if you find yourself in an accident. Always turn your headlights on when driving in snow. Completely clear your car off including all windows, headlights, and mirrors before starting to drive.

It’s highly unlikely you will be prepared to be the victim of a car accident. The medical bills can become crushing, you could miss work for a long period, and suffer from serious pain and suffering.

If you are one of the thousands of people injured in a winter car accident each year due to another driver’s negligence it is best to contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. You want to give yourself the best chance to recover by filing a timely lawsuit against the party responsible for your injuries. These matters are complicated and can be overwhelming so it is best to have a personal injury attorney on your side that has experience in handling automobile accidents and has your best interests in mind.

The personal injury attorneys at O’Connor Law can help you navigate through these complicated legal matters. We have the experience to get you the compensation you deserve.