Winter weather has recently made driving conditions up and down the East coast quite dangerous. In Hampton, Virginia, a car accident was caught on video when an SUV careened out of control, crashed into another vehicle and barreled toward a camera being used by a news crew, it stopped just inches short of the camera. Hundreds of car accidents and injuries are being blamed on the icy roads. As Virginia car accident injury attorneys we know that high speeds make it easy to lose control on ice and snow. Unfortunately some drivers feel that they have sufficient experience in winter driving and can therefore continue at or exceed the speed limit. Crashes due to ice, snow or sleet account for over 1.5 million accidents per year, with winter conditions accounting for up to 17% of weather-related crashes and fatalities.
What can you do to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of a car accident injury in icy weather? The most important tip is to leave lots and lots of room between you and the car ahead. A good rule of thumb is that for every 10 miles per hour you should drive a minimum of four car lengths behind the motorist in front of you. So if you are driving 50 miles per hour, be sure to leave 20 car lengths between you and the car ahead of you. This gives you ample time to react and builds in some extra response time should your visibility be compromised.
If you are injured in a car accident during winter weather by an unsafe driver, seeking an experienced Virginia car accident injury attorney is recommended. Just because the weather is bad doesn’t mean a reckless or irresponsible driver should be given any leeway. Each case has its own special facts. Commercial truck drivers have special statutory duties when operating in ice and snow which places a higher duty on them as well.
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