Crashes Due to Cold Weather
By Pyle Law, March 29 2020 3:31 pmSafe driving is an important responsibility, and we accept that responsibility every time we get behind the wheel. While we obviously cannot control the weather, motorists must take the weather into account when making safe driving decisions. Winter weather is unpredictable and can lead to dangerous roadways that require drivers to reduce their speed and proceed with caution. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a motorist who failed to take winter weather into account, consult with an experienced Kansas personal injury attorney today.
According to the Federal Highway Administration’s Road Weather Management Program, bad weather is a significant factor in many dangerous car accidents. In fact, precipitation, high winds, temperature extremes, and weather that impairs visibility can all seriously affect a motorist’s ability to drive safely, and every driver is responsible for taking all necessary safe driving precautions. The Road Weather Management Program forwards several significant statistics related to weather-related accidents:
When the weather changes rapidly, it can drastically reduce visibility, and motorists must react accordingly. Snowfall can reduce visibility from very good to the distance of a few feet, and that obviously makes driving more hazardous. When a motorist fails to reduce his or her speed dramatically (and to proceed with extreme caution) in response to reduced visibility, that driver endangers everyone with whom he or she shares the road.
While a heavy glaze of ice on the roadway is an obvious hazard, many people do not realize that light, icy drizzle can be just as threatening. Light ice, which often forms first on bridges, can go undetected until it is too late. When the roadway is glazed with even a touch of ice, it can lead to treacherous driving conditions. Drivers who fail to recognize exactly how dangerous an icy drizzle can be and to modify their driving accordingly are dangerous drivers.
When the weather changes unexpectedly or you’re driving in wet conditions, it’s important to always put safety first. When roads are wet – or otherwise made slippery – it’s impossible to maintain full traction, which makes maneuvering your vehicle that much more difficult. Driving safely in adverse weather conditions begins with slowing down. Always reduce your speed in direct relation to the seriousness of the weather. Reducing your speed can also help you protect yourself from drivers who fail to take inclement weather into consideration.
Inclement weather demands more cautious driving, and when motorists fail to accept this responsibility, they endanger others on the road. If a negligent driver leaves you injured in a weather-related accident, the dedicated legal team at Pyle Law in Kansas is here to help. Attorney Tom Pyle is committed to aggressively advocating for your rights and for your rightful compensation. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at 620-241-9000 or toll-free at (888) 381-1155 today.
