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