Washington residents are said to be experiencing the snowiest winter since the 1940s. With many drivers being more used to rain than snow and ice on the roads, extra caution is necessary by those who have to drive in such hazardous conditions. Failure to take due care might be regarded as negligence in the event of an accident that leads to personal injury claims.
Potential dangers include icy conditions, with the often-invisible hazard of black ice on overpasses, bridges, and other elevated roadways. Keeping a close eye on weather forecasts might help to avoid such dangers. Accomplished drivers might feel at ease with their driving skills, but their safety could depend on the ability of other, less experienced drivers to control their vehicles. For that reason, it would be smart to maintain safe following distances and adjust traveling speed to suit the weather and the road conditions, even if it is slower than the posted speed limit.
Drivers might not realize that road conditions can be equally challenging on the day following a snowstorm. They must deal with road crews at work, and melting snow can refreeze in elevated areas or overnight, creating a new set of hazards. It might be smart to allow extra time for any road trip taken during times when snow is forecast because the severity of a storm might force drivers to pull over in safe areas to wait out the worst of it before resuming the drive.
Unfortunately, not all drivers who take to the snow-covered Washington roads will be cautious, and some preventable collisions will surely occur. Those who land up in the hospital as the result of another party’s negligence might have grounds to seek recovery of damages through the civil justice system. An experienced personal injury attorney can assess the viability of such a claim and provide support and guidance throughout ensuing legal proceedings.