4 Dead and More Injured By Tornadoes in Virginia (VA) and North Carolina (NC)

Everyone's heard the old adage April showers bring May flowers. But this April the showers have been anything but gentle. Strong storms left four dead and many injured in auto accidents says the National Weather Service. In Smyth County, Virginia (VA), the community of Chilhowie was struck by an EF-2 tornado. The recent storm was so strong that it tossed nearly 40 tractor trailers around like toys on I-81.

Recently North Carolina (NC) and Virginia (VA) have suffered from tornados, which is not the norm for our area. So what do you do if you are driving and are caught in a tornado? First, do not try to outrun a tornado in your car; leave it immediately. Hurry to the basement of a nearby sturdy building,or lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area. 

Watch out for fallen power lines after the storm. Do not, under any circumstance, drive over a downed electrical line.  Leave your car behind, if necessary. Heavy rains often accompany tornadoes. Do not travel down a road submerged in water; currents could carry your car away. Another likely threat: a collapsed roadway. If your vehicle stalls in water, immediately abandon it. Floodwaters can rise several feet in a matter of minutes.

Don't let bad weather be an excuse for bad driving. People need to understand that when the roads are slick from rain, you must slow down. The ability of your car to brake can be drastically different when you are on wet pavement. This is particularly true when the precipitation first starts and the oil on the road rises to the surface. If you are injured in a car accident in bad weather call an experienced accident attorney to help you sort out the details.

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