Winter Driving Results In More Auto Accidents In Vegas

As the winter weather moves in, driving becomes more and more dangerous. With the abnormal weather patterns in recent years, especially cold temperatures and precipitation is surprising individuals in many regions that are not familiar with driving in these conditions. Not only do the roads themselves become more dangerous to drive on, other drivers are increasingly likely to lose control or make a careless mistake and collide with you.

No matter how prepared and confident you are in your ability to drive safely in bad weather, there’s no guarantee that other drivers will behave the same way. Additionally, it’s not a sure bet that driving slowly and safely on icy roads will prevent you from losing control. If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle accident because of winter weather conditions, call a Las Vegas car accident attorney immediately.

How Winter Weather Affects Roads

Pretty much every aspect of winter weather has a negative effect on a driver’s ability to maneuver their car successfully.

Ice on Roads

While many individuals may think the colder the temperatures, the more dangerous the driving. Actually, the most dangerous temperature is around 32 degrees – the freezing temperature. Also warmer temperatures with the presence of snow or precipitation followed by freezing temperatures are very dangerous. This is because the snow melts into water and then freezes into an ice coating. Black ice, or clear ice, is a common and very dangerous situation with roads. This ice is clear and difficult to detect due to the lack of ice pellets or snow surrounding it. This makes it virtually invisible and impossible for the driver to anticipate.

Many individuals who aren’t used to driving in these conditions are not aware that different parts of the road have the potential to be more dangerous than others. Bridges, overpasses, and elevated roadways are more likely to have icy surfaces. This is due to the exposure of the underside of the road. When the road is flat against the ground, it is somewhat insulated by the ground beneath. Overpasses are exposed to the cold wind and precipitation and are more likely to have ice on them, even when temperatures have returned to above freezing. If you have been involved in a car accident because of icy roads, speak to an attorney for legal advice.

Decreased Visibility

Similar to extreme rainstorms, snow can significantly decrease the range of a driver’s vision. Unlike rain, snow is completely opaque and creates a situation similar to driving through a cloud. After driving around for a bit, you may notice that the windshield tends to get foggy in cold temperatures. This is because the air inside the car is warm, and when it contacts the cold windshield, it condenses into water droplets. To fix this problem. Turn on your warm vents at the windshield!

Safe Driving Procedures for Winter Weather

In areas that experience severe winter weather often, the highest fatality rates are not with individuals native to the area, but are with visitors from out of state who are not as familiar with proper driving practices. Below is an outline for some general advice regarding driving in winter weather but make sure to speak to a Las Vegas attorney if you had been in an accident:

  • Limit your driving – The safest driving is no driving! When the weather is bad, stay home as much as possible. A great excuse for all you home-bodies, staying off the roads makes the roads safer for everyone.
  • Slow down – Driving slowly increases your ability to recover from instances in which you temporarily lose control. Give the person in front of you plenty of extra room as you may not be able to brake as quickly as in normal driving conditions. You want to avoid breaking forcefully as much as possible as this increases your likelihood of experiencing locked brakes and sliding on the roads. Be sure to glance in your rearview mirror to keep an eye on drivers coming up behind you and lightly press the brakes to increase your visibility when necessary. Allow for additional travel time so you don’t feel anxious and rushed on the road. Keeping a cool head is vital for safe driving and will prevent you from getting too stressed out!
  • Prepare your vehicle – If winter weather is in the forecast, prepare your vehicle by doing the following: changing the wiper blades; filling the oil and other fluids; checking tire tread depth; adding chains and cables; evaluating the overall functionality of the vehicle. Be sure to have the necessary tools in your vehicle to deal with bad weather, such as: tire chains, tow strap, flashlight, ice scraper, jumper cables, warm clothing as well as sleeping bags and emergency blankets, cell phone and charger, including a portable charger, basic first aid kit.

Seek Legal Representation

If you are involved in a car collision related to winter conditions, stay calm, seek medical attention if necessary, and consider legal representation from an experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorney. The state of Nevada permits personal injury cases to be filed up to 2 years after the incident. If you intend to take legal action against the government, you only have 6 months to take legal action. Even if you don’t expect to take legal action, the other driver might, whether or not that driver is at fault. Be sure to protect yourself and talk to an attorney with the experience to help your case.

Speak to an Experienced Attorney Today

With over 15 years of experience, Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers has the skills, resources and experiences to ensure you are rightly compensated for the injuries you’ve accrued in vehicle collisions. We provide compassionate legal service with aggressive representation. Give us a call at (702) 384-1414 or fill out your online application form here.