Fall is here, and winter is right around the corner. With them comes cold temperatures and treacherous weather conditions. If you improperly navigate fall and winter driving conditions, then you could end up involved in a serious accident that leaves you with severe injuries, resulting in physical pain and suffering, mental turmoil and devastating financial losses. The good news is that there are steps you can take to prepare yourself for cold weather driving and mitigate your risk of being injured in an accident. Let’s take a closer look at some of the common mistakes drivers make when preparing for cold weather driving so that you’re ready as the seasons change.
Avoid these common cold weather driving mistakes
A lot of motorists inadequately prepare for cold weather driving. You don’t want to be one of them. So, here are some mistakes that you’ll want to be sure to avoid as temperatures cool and snowy and icy weather starts to present itself:
- Going too fast for road conditions: When rain, snow or ice are present, you need to slow down to reduce your risk of slipping and sliding. Reducing your speed will thus help you maintain control of your vehicle and reduce your risk of crashing.
- Failing to maintain a proper following distance: As weather conditions change, you need to adjust your following distance. If you don’t, then you’ll be at an increased risk of rear ending the vehicle in front of you when they slam on the brakes. It’s better to leave more than enough room between yourself and the vehicle in front of you than to leave too little.
- Keeping winter gear on when driving: As the weather cools, you’ll want to bundle up. But once you get in your car, you should remove many of these items of clothing to ensure that you can safely operate your vehicle. For example, snow boots make it difficult to properly push the brake and gas pedals, and some boots are even too wide for you to push just one pedal at a time. Also, gloves and mittens can be slippery on the steering wheel, and hats can reduce your peripheral vision. So, be sure to remove these items before you start driving.
- Neglecting to keep an emergency kit: Winter driving can lead to unexpected situations. If you slide off the road and become stuck, for example, it might take a while for help to arrive. Therefore, it’s a good idea to have an emergency kit in your car so that you can get by until assistance arrives. This kit should include a first aid kit, a blanket, food, a shovel, water, sand and flares. These items will help keep you safe.
- Forgetting to maintain the vehicle for winter driving: When the weather turns cold and you’re faced with slippery driving conditions, you need to be able to rely on your car. But if your tires are improperly inflated, your windshield wipers are worn out or your brakes are faulty, then you’ll be at an increased risk of being involved in an accident.
Act now to protect yourself during winter driving
There are several additional driving risks that you’ll face as cold weather arrives. You need to be prepared so that you can protect yourself as fully as possible. If even after doing so you end up hurt in a wreck, then you’ll want to consider your legal options. By successfully pursuing a personal injury case, you can impose liability, find accountability, secure closure and recover the compensation needed to further your recovery. If you have questions about how to navigate a car accident personal injury lawsuit, then now is time to seek answers.