Lake County, IN Personal Injury Attorneys Familiar with Weather-Related Crashes
Indiana Accident Law Firm Advocates for Those Injured in Auto Accidents
Winter weather conditions can adversely affect the driving abilities of even the most skilled drivers. For example, in November 2019, police responded to 95 accidents that occurred after the first snow in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, not including relatively minor incidents like sliding off the road due to black ice.
Accidents that happen in winter driving conditions are not the fault of the weather, even if the weather adversely affected the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle. During the winter, it is especially important to familiarize yourself with the best practices for safe driving, including awareness of the following:
- Temperature. Cold weather can affect car battery performance, tire pressure, the operation of wipers and window washing fluid, and oil, brake, and transmission fluids as well as antifreeze. Cars that don’t run properly can be a major source of distraction for drivers.
- Road conditions. Ice, snow, and sleet affect driving speeds, vehicle stability, performance, braking distance, and driver visibility. Not having an understanding of these circumstances can lead to overdriving the road conditions.
- Wind speed. High winds affect the stability of traffic as well as that of individual vehicles. In the winter, wind frequently causes additional challenges including blowing snow and reduced visibility.
- Fog. During the winter, freezing or frozen fog can freeze on roadways, sidewalks, and vehicles, creating extremely slippery and hazardous conditions.
- Black ice. Not easy to see, black ice resulting from frozen fog takes many motorists by surprise, subsequently leading to a loss of control and potential collisions.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, snow and sleet contributed to 18 percent of all weather-related crashes between 2007 and 2016.
Contact an Experienced Lake County, IN Accident Attorney
Were you injured in an accident due to winter driving conditions? Contact Kelly Law Offices online or call 1-800-859-8800 to set up your free initial consultation and discuss your potential for recovery today.
