Winter car accidents happen in moments. One second, you’re driving on the highway, and the next, you’re out of control as you impact the barrier. Wintertime is a dangerous time thanks to icy storms, rain, sleet, snow and freezing temperatures.
One good thing, though, is that most of the crashes that take place in the winter are preventable. The Minnesota State Patrol reported that most of the accidents that take place in the winter are caused when a vehicle slides off the road or hits the median. Sometimes, these vehicles roll, and other times, they end up disabled in a ditch.
The problem with some winter incidents comes down to visibility. When there is a heavy storm and you can’t see well, you may travel too closely to the vehicle in front of you so that you can see the other vehicle’s lights. This kind of driving is dangerous; drivers need to be aware that they can, and should, pull over or slow down significantly in winter storms.
Winter weather conditions led to over 5,600 crashes in 2012, thanks to ice and packed snow. Slush and snow led to around 5,000 more. Minnesota is particularly dangerous due to the number of open, flat areas and rural roads.
Our website has more about car accidents and what to do if you’ve been injured. Winter crashes are common, but if drivers slow down and pay attention, they can prevent themselves from causing accidents that hurt people like yourself. You can pursue a claim if a driver hits you as a result of unsafe winter driving.