Protect Yourself During Winter Driving Season

Winter driving is right around the corner. Driving in winter conditions can be hazardous; however, you can take action to make driving in ice and snow as safe as possible. Each year, the lawyers at Abeyta Nelson see an increase in the number of car accidents during the winter months. Here are five tips to increase your safety when faced with winter driving conditions:

1. Plan your drive during daylight hours

Not only is your visibility better, but if you have vehicle problems or become stranded on the road, you are easier to see, and more likely to receive prompt assistance during the day.

2. Plan your route and check the weather forecast before leaving

Allowing plenty of time to arrive at your destination will reduce the chances of driving too fast for the conditions. Awareness of the weather forecast allows you to have an appropriate amount of time to reach your destination. Keep your fuel tank at least half full in case you face an emergency and find yourself stranded on the road.

3. Maintain proper tire inflation

Under-inflated tires increase the ability of your tires to grip the road in deep snow, but has the opposite effect on ice. If you live in an area where winter driving conditions are a certainty, consider buying snow tires. Snow tires are made of softer components and have a tread design that provides better traction in winter conditions.

4. Keep your vehicle stocked with emergency equipment

This includes water, blankets, extra clothes and medication, snacks, flares, flashlight, tow rope, windshield scraping device, and a bag of sand or kitty litter (for additional traction in case of getting stuck on ice).

5. If the roadways are too treacherous, stay off the road

If you are involved in a collision, pull over to the side of the road, call 911, and move to safety. Report all injuries or pain, no matter how insignificant, to the investigating officer at the scene of the accident. If another vehicle is involved, exchange information, take pictures of the vehicles involved, get contact information for all witnesses, and contact your insurance company.

Hiring Car Accident Attorneys in Yakima

If you’ve been injured and encountered problems with an insurance company, contact Abeyta Nelson Injury Law right away. There’s never any charge to discuss your questions with us at Abeyta Nelson, and no fee unless we win your case. The sooner we’re involved, the more help we can give you.

Send us a message or give us a phone call at 509-588-0240 to get started now.