Winter Car Accidents in Connecticut
Learn the common causes of winter car accidents in Connecticut, winter driving safety tips, and what to do if you're injured in a crash.
WINTER CAR ACCIDENTS IN CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Winter Car Accidents
Most can agree that winter in New England is an unpredictable time of year. One day it is sunny and 60 degrees, the next it’s snowing and below freezing temperatures. With this comes unpredictability on the roads. Connecticut locals deal with harsh wintry conditions every year, bringing a higher likelihood of driving accidents each winter season. The annual winter car accident reports from the Connecticut Crash Data Repository have been shocking to witness. Find out how we can decrease these statistics by following safe driving in the Winter months.
Connecticut Winter (2021-2022) Car Accident Statistics
- 24,978 Connecticut Car Accidents in Winter of 2021-2022
- 75 Winter Car Accidents were Fatal
- 7,230 Winter Car Accidents Involved Young Drivers
Connecticut Winter (2020-2021) Car Accident Statistics
- 20,991 Connecticut Car Accidents in Winter of 2020-2021
- 21% of Car Accidents in Connecticut in 2020-2021 were winter related
- 54 Winter Car Accidents Were Fatal
- 6,029 Winter Car Accidents Involved Young Drivers
Common Causes for Winter Driving Accidents
- Snow and ice reduce pavement friction between tires and the road.
- The presence of snow and ice on the road can make it difficult for a driver to maneuver or react to road debris.
- Snow and sleet storms reduce visibility.
- Drivers are unable to differentiate between the nearly invisible, black ice and the road.
Drive Safe This Winter
Let’s decrease these statistics as we work on driving defensively during the winter months. As you can see, there are a lot of dangerous factors that can lead to a car accident in the winter season. Follow these winter driving safety tips to avoid getting into a car accident.
Slow down.
If the roads are slippery, you can not drive as fast as you would on dry pavement. Allow yourself more time to stop your vehicle on wintery roads.
Check the forecast.
If the predicted weather looks dangerous to drive in, wait it out.
Winter tires.
Winter tires are much safer on slippery, snowy roads in Connecticut.
If You Find Yourself Driving In Wintery Conditions...
Although it is not recommended to be on the roads during wintery conditions, some surprise storms are hard to avoid. If you find yourself driving in dangerous conditions, here are some safety tips to follow:
Re-route
Take the route where the plows and salters are more likely to be out. Avoid back roads with hills. Snow plows are more likely to work on main roads.
Avoid Bridges and Overpasses
Elevated roadways such as bridges or overpass freeze more easily than the regular roadway. Why? Because the deep ground below the road warms up the surface – when there is no ground below the road's surface, the road's temperature matches the air's.
Avoid Cruise Control
Using cruise control on wintery roads will cause your wheels to continue to accelerate on the slippery sections of the road even when they lose traction, which can lead to hydroplaning or skidding.
Steer Off the Road
If you find yourself coming up on a lineup of stopped cars, your brakes might not allow you to stop in time to avoid rear-ending the car in front of you. First, try tapping your brakes to see if you are capable of stopping in time. If not, steer off the road. This way, you will not rear-end the car in front of you and will not get rear-ended by the car in back of you.
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CONTACT MCCOY & MCCOY LAW FIRM
CT Winter Accident Lawyers
If you have been injured in a winter car accident in Connecticut due to someone else’s negligence, contact our law firm today to see how we can help you. Our goal is to make this unfamiliar and overwhelming time easy for you so that you can rest and recover.
It is common for victims of bad weather car accidents to assume that their crash was a result of the weather condition and no one can be held liable for their injuries. However, an experienced lawyer will be able to dive deeper into the case by looking at all angles and find out if another driver’s negligence was the cause of the injuries.
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