Troy Walton | Founding Partner, Walton Telken Injury Attorneys | twalton@waltontelken.com | www.waltontelken.com
The holiday season is a wonderful time to gather with loved ones and reflect on the past year. However, wintertime revelry can be quickly marred by unexpected events—including motor vehicle collisions. Winter can be a dangerous time to be on the roads in the St. Louis metropolitan region and southern Illinois, thanks to a particularly hazardous trifecta: snow, slush, and ice.
Annually, one quarter of all weather-related motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. occur on snowy, slushy, or icy roadways—and 15% occur when it’s actively snowing or sleeting. Each year, an average of 116,800 people are injured, and 1,300 are killed in motor vehicle crashes on weather-impacted pavement. Illinois is reportedly one of the most dangerous states for wintertime driving, with an average of 27 fatal wintertime collisions each year.
Contributing Factors to Winter Vehicle Crashes
Winter weather heightens the risks for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike. It is crucial that drivers understand the factors that most often result in wintertime collisions and prepare accordingly.
As a driver, you can take steps to prevent serious, and even fatal wintertime motor vehicle accidents. For example, equipping your vehicle with snow tires can help prevent sliding under icy conditions. And, driving slowly and cautiously in wintry weather will help prevent your vehicle from sliding. That said, not all accidents are entirely preventable. There are a variety of common factors that result in wintertime motor vehicle collisions, including:
- Unsafe Driving Practices: Aggressive or reckless driving and failing to adhere to traffic laws always pose significant dangers—but especially in wintry weather. Violations such as distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding, tailgating, making illegal turns, or disregarding stop signs and signals are especially perilous when roadways are snowy, icy, and/or slushy. Drivers engaging in these behaviors are significantly more likely to cause motor vehicle accidents.
- Reduced Traction: Snow, ice, and/or slush on roads significantly impact a driver’s ability to control their vehicle. Increased stopping times and the risk of sliding during sudden braking or turning can easily result in a crash. Traveling at a safe speed and maintaining a safe following distance is especially important when driving in the wintertime.
- Mechanical Failures: Even under ideal driving conditions, improper vehicle maintenance can lead to loss of control. However in wintry weather, this is even more true. For example, under-inflated tires, malfunctioning windshield wipers, and faulty headlights all reduce a driver’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely under winter conditions.
- Reduced Visibility: Snowstorms, hail, sleet, and other winter conditions can limit a driver’s visibility. It is imperative that drivers exercise caution during such conditions, including by ensuring they can see the road, reducing speed, and allowing for ample following distance.
- Dangerous Roads and Highways: Already-hazardous roads, such as busy highways and rural roads in southern Illinois, become even more treacherous in winter weather.
Walton Telken Personal Injury Lawyers are Here for You
If you or a loved one is injured in a motor vehicle accident, the attorneys and staff at Walton Telken are prepared to evaluate your case and fight for the compensation you deserve. We will thoroughly investigate your accident, gather evidence demonstrating the negligent driver’s responsibility, and tirelessly advocate for full compensation for your damages.
We offer no-cost, no-commitment consultations. Contact our office at 618-307-9880 to speak with our experienced St. Louis and Metro East car accident lawyers.
