December is here, meaning that winter is in full force. Here in Utah, winter means freezing cold temperatures and lots of snow and ice. This can be dangerous for drivers and other people out on the road. Car accidents happen frequently in the winter, due to treacherous weather conditions. It is important to understand why car accidents happen often in the winter, how you can avoid them, and what to do if you do end up in a car accident.
Do More Car Accidents Happen In The Winter?
The question of whether more car accidents happen in the winter is a bit of a complicated question to answer. The summer has the greatest number of accidents occur, but the holidays in the winter are also extremely car accident-prone. 25% of all weather-related car accidents happen in snowy, icy, and slushy weather conditions. In fact, over 1000 people die every year in car accidents caused by snowy weather. So while the majority of car accidents happen in the summertime, it is extremely important to be careful in the wintertime and especially in snowy, icy weather.
Holidays
The other important piece of information to understand about the wintertime is that there are several major holidays one after another. These holidays are a time for either celebrating or reminiscing and oftentimes these two types of feelings lead to drinking. That unfortunately means that the number of drunk drivers on the roads during these winter holidays is increased. That can lead to more car accidents than on average.
How To Drive Safely During The Winter
There are several things that you can do to protect yourself and your family when you are driving in the winter. Firstly, make sure to always have as clear a view as possible. Scrape your windows thoroughly before driving and make sure that your lights and window wipers work properly. Secondly, it is important for your car to have good traction. You can achieve this by getting snow tires or at least getting your tires rotated/changed out before winter’s first snowfall.
The third tip for driving in the winter is to make sure to be extra alert. It is important to be vigilant during snowstorms, but it is just as important to be on the lookout for patches of black ice on a clear day. It is also important to be aware when you are driving on a holiday; as previously mentioned, holidays tend to have more drunk drivers and more accidents than on average.
What To Do If You Are Involved In A Car Accident
Sometimes a car accident simply cannot be avoided. In these situations, it can be hard to know what to do. The first thing to do is get to a safe area and exchange information with the other driver while calling the police. Then get medical attention as soon as possible. If you have recently been involved in a winter car accident and were injured, you may want to contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney.
We at Lebaron & Jensen provide all-inclusive legal services including representing our clients in court, advising our clients about what to do in their situation, and working to reach the most favorable outcome to a client’s case. For more information or to get in contact with our firm, feel free to reach out to us at Lebaron and Jensen today.
