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Winter Driving Tips for West Virginia from Accident Lawyers

Our West Virginia car accident lawyers offer winter driving tips.

Winter is upon us. It's time for longer nights, colder temperatures, slicker roads and definitely more dangerous driving.

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[su_column size="1/6"]Examples of weather conditions that can lead to car accidents include:[/su_column]
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Car accidents can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

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  • Driver distraction
  • Driver intoxication
  • Vehicle defects
  • Pedestrians or animals darting across the road
  • Obscured obstacles
  • Poorly maintained roadways
  • Failure of drivers to obey posted traffic signals and speed limits.

However, adverse weather conditions can also be a major cause of car accidents - either directly or in conjunction with other factors.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reports that approximately 25 percent of car accidents in the U.S. are caused by adverse weather conditions.The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reports that approximately 25 percent of car wrecks in the U.S. are caused by adverse weather conditions.

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Examples of weather conditions that can lead to car accidents include:[/su_column]
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Examples of weather conditions that can lead to auto accidents include:

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  • Snow in the roadway and on the side of the road
  • Black ice
  • Slick pavement
  • Strong winds
  • Hail
  • Dense fog
  • Rain.

More than 480,000 people are injured and approximately 6,250 people are killed in weather-related car accidents every year, the FHWA states.Rain and wet pavement are responsible for the greatest percentage of weather-related car accidents - 46 percent and 74 percent, respectively.

For this reason, it will be important for motorists in Charleston and across West Virginia to take extra safety precautions during the coming months.

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How to React to a Winter Car Accident[/su_column]
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How to React to a Winter Motor Vehicle Accident

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If you are involved in a car crash this winter, it is important that you take the right steps immediately following the collision to ensure your safety and that of any others involved. These steps include:

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[su_column size="5/6"]If it is safe to do so, pull off the road. This will prevent the impediment of oncoming traffic and allow you to prevent a second collision.[/su_column]
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[su_column size="5/6"]Call 911 immediately. Police and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) can help if anybody in your car or another car involved in the collision needs immediate medical care.[/su_column]
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[su_column size="5/6"]Cooperate with police. When you call the police, an officer will be sent to the scene. He or she will fill out an official police accident report, detailing the date and time of the collision as well as the weather conditions.[/su_column]
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[su_column size="5/6"]Take photographs of the scene and exchange insurance and contact information. You will need this information later on if you file a personal injury claim. Once you have all the necessary information, including contact information for any witnesses to the accident, you may leave the scene.[/su_column]
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[su_column size="5/6"]Seek medical attention. It is important to proceed in a timely manner after an accident and seek an accurate diagnosis of your injury and the appropriate treatment. Even if you feel you are not injured, it is important to have this confirmed by a doctor. Sometimes, injuries that appear to be minor or non-existent can become serious if they are left untreated.[/su_column]
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How to Travel Safely During the Winter[/su_column]
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Travel Safety During the Winter

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There are a lot of ways you can keep yourself safe this winter. The easiest way to minimize your risk of Put your phone away when you are driving.being injured in a car accident is choosing not to drive distracted. Put your phone away when you are driving. If you need to make or take a call, pull off the road. Adjust your driving to suit the weather conditions and never, under any circumstance, drink and drive.

Being prepared for a cold weather accident is another way you can make your travels safer this winter. The National Safety Council (NSC) has published a short list of travel safety tips that includes:

  • If possible, do not stop while driving uphill.
  • Accelerate and decelerate more slowly in wet, snowy or icy weather.
  • Observe a greater following distance than you do during the warmer months because when the pavement is wet, icy or snowy, it takes your car longer to come to a complete stop.
  • Do not use cruise control in extreme weather conditions.
  • Do not mix radial tires with other types of tires.

You should also plan out your route before you leave. By knowing how to reach your destination, you can avoid sudden lane changes and turns off the highway.

You should also plan out your route before you leave. By knowing how to reach your destination, you can avoid sudden lane changes and turns off the highway.

In addition to the tips listed above, you should follow this guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You should carry the following items in your car during the winter months:

  • Heavy blankets
  • Flashlight
  • Jumper cables
  • Shovel
  • Fresh water
  • First aid kit
  • Cell phone
  • Ice scraper.

If you are stranded during a winter storm, these tools can come in handy. It is also important that you regularly check that your car is in good working order during the winter months and that you address any problems with the car as soon as possible. Cold weather can exacerbate existing mechanical problems in your vehicle. So, check on the following regularly:

Cold weather can exacerbate existing mechanical problems in your vehicle. So, check on the following regularly:
1. Brakes
2. Antifreeze levels
3. Tires
4. Heater
5. Defroster
6. Windshield wiper fluid
7. Oil level
8. Battery
9. Radiator
10. Alternator
11. Emergency flashers
12. Ignition.

If your tires are worn down, replace them. Bald tires, while dangerous in any driving conditions, are especially dangerous on icy and wet roadways.

ADDITIONALLY, AAA RECOMMENDS THAT YOU FOLLOW THESE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR WINTER DRIVING:

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[su_column size="5/6"]Keep your gasoline tank at least halfway full at all times. Running out of gas in subzero temperatures can put you in danger.[/su_column]
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[su_column size="5/6"]If you are stuck or stranded, use whatever you have available in your car to keep warm. This can include a blanket or floor mats.[/su_column]
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[su_column size="5/6"]Program your local AAA's phone number into your phone so you can call easily in case of an emergency.[/su_column]
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[su_column size="5/6"]Keep a brightly-colored cloth with you to tie to your antenna or on top of a closed car window in case you are stranded. Rescuers can see this bright cloth and find you easily in the snow.[/su_column]
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Contact Our Auto Accident Lawyers in Charleston, West Virginia

During the winter, you face more hazards on the roadway than you face during the warmer months. Prepare yourself for these hazards by taking the precautions discussed above.

However, you must remember: No amount of preparation can completely eliminate your risk of being involved in an auto accident.

If you are involved in a car wreck this winter in Charleston or elsewhere in West Virginia, you could have grounds to file a personal injury claim and seek monetary compensation for your expenses related to your injury.

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[su_column size="3/4"]To find out more about this process, contact our team of experienced motor vehicle lawyers at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC. We can represent you as you pursue your personal injury claim, providing you with legal guidance through every step of the process.[/su_column]
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Category: Car Accidents

Charleston, WV

Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC
10 Hale St Suite 501
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 720-1000

Columbus, OH

Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC
20 E Broad St Suite 1000
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 587-8423