Below-freezing temperatures and wintry precipitation such as snow and sleet can make driving during the wintertime quite treacherous. With this in mind, it’s important to take extra precautions to stay safe on the road during this time of year. To help you avoid car accidents and keep your family out of danger, our Bucks County auto accident lawyer would like to discuss four common winter driving oversights to steer clear of:
- Not maintaining an appropriate following distance – When driving on slippery roads, it’s essential to keep plenty of space between your own vehicle and the one in front of you to account for the fact that your car may slide when you hit the brakes. A good rule of thumb for wintry weather is a following distance of eight seconds or more.
- Not remaining calm if you begin to slide – Feeling your vehicle start to slide on ice is truly terrifying, but it’s crucial to keep your cool so that you can safely handle the situation. Rather than making a sudden movement, calmly take your foot off the gas and steer in the direction you’d like to go until your vehicle regains traction.
- Not removing all of the snow and ice from your vehicle – We cannot stress this one enough! As we pointed out in our recent blog post, “Our Advice for Clearing Your Car of Snow & Ice,” even a small amount of snow or ice can cause an accident if it blows off of your vehicle. Furthermore, you can be fined under Pennsylvania law if your failure to remove all of the built-up precipitation on your car leads to incident or injury. Therefore, you’ll want to be sure to get rid of any and all snow/ice before hitting the road.
- Not being prepared in case of an emergency – This one goes for all seasons, but it’s especially important in the winter due to the possibility of severe weather and temperatures. To ensure that you are well-equipped in the event that you become stranded in winter, you should keep blankets, gloves, an ice scraper and a shovel in your car, along with bottled water and high-energy snacks. Plus, our auto accident lawyer in Bucks County recommends having an all-season emergency kit that contains a flashlight, an auto escape device, road flares, a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.
By being aware of these winter driving mistakes and how to avoid them, you’ll greatly reduce your chances of being involved in an accident this season.
Need Assistance with a Winter Accident Case? Contact Us
Unfortunately, others on the road may not follow the aforementioned advice and you may find yourself the victim of a winter car crash even if you take great care while driving. In the event that you are injured due to another party’s negligence, you can depend on the Heslin Law Firm to help you decide on the best course of action for your case. As the auto accident lawyer Bucks County has relied on for more than 30 years, we will offer you personalized, skilled legal guidance.
To schedule a no-cost consultation with Mr. Gary Heslin, our Bucks County auto accident attorney, call (215) 332-0300 today. We look forward to fighting for your rights should you require our assistance.