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Driving in light snow or ice

On Behalf of | Jan 13, 2016 | Car Accidents |

As winter gets underway, West Virginia motorists need to be aware of the dangers they face when snow is light. Many pileups happen when it first begins snowing because people are unaware that the roads are slick yet.

According to meteorologists, as little as an inch of snow or a small glazing of ice can lead to more accidents than heavier snow and ice. The problem is that people are unlikely to have reduced their speed much below their normal rates because of their unawareness about the true conditions of the road.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released data from the 10-year period from 2004 to 2013. According to the data, almost 25 percent of all car accidents occurred due to weather conditions, with in excess of 40 percent of those attributable to snow, ice, slush or sleet. The National Weather Service says people need to pay attention to advisories as conditions can change quickly. It takes time for people to catch up to the different style of driving required by wintry conditions, but they should start by slowing down any time an advisory is announced.

Even they are traveling at or slightly under the speed limit, if motorists are driving too fast for the conditions and cause an accident, they may be found to have engaged in negligent driving. An injured victim may want to have the assistance of a personal injury attorney in seeking compensation from such an at-fault motorist. It is a good idea for all drivers to slow down when the weather conditions mandate doing so. By driving cautiously in snow and on ice, people may reduce the risk that both they and others around them will be injured in a weather-related accident.