Icy weather can cause truck accidents in many ways. Ice on the road can lead to a vehicle slipping and skidding. Icy weather can also make it harder to slow down or come to a stop to avoid striking a vehicle in front of you or to stop in time at a signal or a stop sign.
Icy weather is often accompanied by poor visibility. Rear-end accidents, sideswipes, and blindspot accidents can occur if a trucker cannot see vehicles, objects, or pedestrians to the sides of or behind his or her vehicle.
Vehicles can experience unexpected breakdowns in colder weather, and icy weather can also accelerate road damage, which may lead to an accident.
Winter Weather and Trucking Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that around one in six motor vehicle accidents occurs in cold, winter conditions. Driving in rain, sleet, snow, and ice is different from driving in dry or sunny conditions. Without adequate caution, preparation, or training, a truck driver may lose control of their vehicle or cause an accident when driving in cold, icy conditions.
Here are some of the ways that icy weather can cause truck accidents:
- By reducing the amount of traction that you have between your tires and the road, ice and snow can make it harder for you to accelerate and stop your vehicle. Ice can also lead to slipping and skidding and can make it harder to perform basic turns.
- Vehicles may experience more wear and tear during the winter months. Small cracks in your tires can expand in icy conditions, and sidewall damage and air pressure issues can lead to tire-related mishaps.
- The NHTSA provides drivers with a comprehensive winter servicing checklist for their vehicles. Vehicle maintenance for winter is different from vehicle maintenance for summer, and maintenance issues can lead to an accident.
- Brake failures and tire blowouts in icy conditions can have catastrophic consequences, especially if a driver is unable to come to a stop or control his or her vehicle due to ice or snow on the road.
- Icy weather requires slower driving to ensure road safety. This can lead to longer periods between rest stops. Driver fatigue, distraction, and poor physical adjustment of the driver to changes in weather changes can contribute to an accident.
- Cold, icy weather may cause your battery to die out or drain more quickly, and this can affect your lights and other electrical components. These issues can have serious consequences if not quickly addressed.
- Ice or snow that accumulates on top of trucks parked in the open can fly off while the truck is in operation on the road. Large slabs of ice or flurries of snow can strike another vehicle or temporarily reduce visibility, leading to a collision.
- Winter weather may be accompanied by high winds, low visibility, and fog, and heavy rain or ice on your windows can make it difficult to operate your truck.
Avoiding Icy Weather Accidents
You may not be able to completely avoid driving in icy conditions, but here are a few tips on how you can lower your risk of being involved in an icy weather truck accident:
- Perform seasonal maintenance before winter sets in.
- Perform a thorough pre-departure check before hitting the road.
- Check your tire pressure, tire tread, and battery levels before every trip.
- Change to winter tires if required.
- A blowout can occur at any time, as can a brake failure. Make sure you know what to do in such an event and how to handle common accident types.
- Review winter driving rules regarding how much distance to keep between yourself and other drivers, safe driving speeds for different types of weather, and check where you can stop on your route if you face physical or vehicle issues.
The Fitch Law Firm LLC Represents Truck Accident Victims
If you were hurt in a truck accident in Columbus, Ohio, the Fitch Law Firm LLC may be able to help. Our firm handles personal injury insurance claims and lawsuits. We operate on a contingency-fee-basis with no up-front payments required of our clients.
Please contact the Fitch Law Firm LLC today at (614) 545-3930 for a free consultation on your case with a member of our team.
Keep in mind that, per Ohio Revised Code (ORC) §2305.10, a general two-year statute of limitations pertains to filing a personal injury lawsuit in Ohio. The sooner you call the Fitch Law Firm LLC, the sooner we can get started on your case.
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