If you have been injured in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or New Jersey area by someone who slid into you, was following too close or driving too fast for the current weather conditions, contact us right away for a free consultation.
The fact that you were injured in a motor vehicle collision isn’t the fault of the rain, snow, sleet, ice or fog. It’s probably the fault of the driver who hit you. Our job is to hold the careless and negligent driver who hit and hurt you accountable for his or her act or failure to act in snowy and icy conditions.
Car Accidents in Snow and Ice
Pennsylvania gets more than its share of snow and ice. Of course, snow and ice make driving treacherous, and due to less friction and deceased visibility and maneuverability, those weather conditions contribute to an increased number of accidents. According to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, 24 percent of all weather-related motor vehicle accidents occur on roads with an accumulation of snow, slush or ice. Those conditions contribute to about 1,300 traffic fatalities and more than 160,000 injuries annually. About another 900 fatalities and 76,000 injuries occur every year during snowing or sleeting weather events.
The Pennsylvania Numbers
As per the most recent ascertainable data from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), between 2011 and 2105, Pennsylvania was ranked as one of the top five deadliest states for car accidents during the winter months. It averaged 65 fatal car accidents during those months, ranking it at number three on the deadliest list. Only Ohio and Michigan exceeded that number of fatalities. The NHTSA found that the top causes of winter motor vehicle accidents include:
- Poor visibility from heavy winter snow, sleet, rain and fog
- Slippery conditions from black ice that we can’t or don’t see
- Improper vehicle maintenance like severely worn tires, inadequate defroster fans and worn windshield wipers
- Snow left on a vehicle that flies off and hits another vehicle
What You Can Do
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) recommends that if you hear about bad winter weather coming your way, you should avoid any unnecessary travel. That alone helps PennDOT, counties and municipalities clear roadways and make them safer and passable for you. If you believe that it’s necessary for you to travel from your home to someplace else, take some of the following advice into consideration:
- Slow down and leave a proper interval between you and the vehicle ahead of you, given weather and traffic conditions on the roadway
- Don’t try to stop or start suddenly
- If a road looks wet, it’s either wet or icy
- Beware of bridges and ramps that freeze faster than roadways
Recent Accidents
The 2017 – 2018 winter season is turning out to be especially snowy and brutally cold. At the time of this article, we had several recent collisions in the snow. Here are a few:
- A 20 Car Pileup on the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) in Montgomery County at Gladwyne – CBS Philly
- Several accidents in the snow in the Deleware Valley – CBS Philly
- 6ABC reported that 5 people were hurt in a head on collision in Mantua
- NBC 10 reported on a First Alert for “Frozendelphia” as temperatures plunged
- Slippery conditions lead to I-78 closure in Berks County
Contact a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer today
We are experienced Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyers with a long history of representing clients involved in all types of automobile accidents. Contact us right away for a free consultation and case review after being injured in any snow or ice Pennsylvania motor vehicle collision.
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