Posted: December 15, 2020
New York City winters are notoriously cold and wet. And it’s not unheard of for major snowstorms to hit our city hard.
These conditions mean that the roads become more dangerous than usual and it’s all too easy to get in a car accident if you’re not careful. Here are some of the most common causes of winter car accidents.
Driving Too Fast for Weather Conditions
When it’s raining or snowing, you should usually drive under the posted speed limit. Slippery roads make it difficult to slow down or stop as quickly as usual, and you should keep that in mind when gauging how fast to go and how close you are to other cars.
In the rare case of heavy snowfall, you should try to avoid driving altogether. Obscured visibility, poor road conditions, and unpredictable drivers make for an experience fraught with danger — no matter how experienced you are at driving in inclement weather.
Impaired Driving
Drunk driving is what most people think of when imagining driving while impaired, many types of impaired driving are common in the winter. These include:
- Drunk driving
- Hungover driving
- Drowsy driving
- Driving under the influence of prescription drugs
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a problem year-round, but consequences can be exacerbated in the winter. The problem is that distracted drivers don’t see stopped cars, debris, or other road hazards with enough time to react. If the road is slippery, the driver is more likely than not going to slide right into a crash.
Avoid distracted driving car accidents by:
- Not looking at your phone while driving
- Only using Bluetooth to take calls
- Not putting on makeup or grooming while driving
- Not eating or drinking while driving
Schedule Your Free Legal Consultation
Of course, no matter how carefully you drive and how many precautions you take, you can't stop other people on the road from driving dangerously. If you've been injured in a car wreck in New York City due to another person's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.
Call the Law Offices of Reid B. Wissner at 212-406-9288 to schedule your free, no-obligation legal consultation. We serve clients in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and nearby areas of New York City.
