In one of the most severe winters in recent history, icy and snowy weather has caused many multi-vehicle chain reaction accidents on the highways this year. When Ice and snow fall in regions where drivers are not used to driving in those conditions, and where the road maintenance crews are not able to keep the roads clear, people traveling on the roads can get into accidents.
Motor vehicle accidents caused by snowy and icy roads
In February, in Franklin, TN, a 34-year-old mom and her ten-year-old son were killed by a semi-truck on I-65 after they stopped to help a stranded motorist who had crashed their car on the ice. According to WKRN News, Kristi Clark and her son, Carter Oakley, saw the accident and stopped to help. While they were standing outside of their vehicle they were struck and killed by a semi. The icy roads and poor visibility surely contributed to this tragic accident.
Falling snow can hinder visibility and snow on the roadway can hinder a vehicle’s maneuverability. Driving slower because of the road conditions can help drivers feel more in control of their vehicle, but unless all drivers reduce their speed, the risk of crashes becomes greater. Icy roads make cars slip and skid on the roadways raising the risk of accidents.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reports that on average, more than 7,000 Americans die in weather-related car crashes every year. If you live in a region that gets snow and occasional ice storms, exercising caution and keeping a safe following distance between you and the car in front of you when you must drive in bad weather is the best way to stay safe.
Investigating the real cause of car accidents in poor weather conditions
If an accident occurs during wintery weather, the cause is not always the road conditions. If the driver who caused the accident was driving too fast, or if the driver was impaired by alcohol at the time of the accident, negligence rather than weather conditions becomes the cause of the accident. A skilled personal injury attorney will investigate any auto accident regardless of the environmental conditions that might have contributed, they work to discover the real cause so that they can hold the responsible party accountable.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in bad weather, contact Banks and Jones for a free consultation.
T. Scott knows the importance of interacting with colleagues to stay abreast of developments and changes in the legal world. T. Scott frequently teaches CLE courses on trial strategy, teaching other lawyers his methods for success in the courtroom, and is certified as a Rule 31 Mediator in the Tennessee Supreme Court. He is a member of the Knoxville Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the National Trial Lawyers, and both the Tennessee and American Associations for Justice.
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