Big Firm Services with

Small Firm Personal Attention

Are you nervous about driving in winter?

On Behalf of | Jan 27, 2025 | motor vehicle accidents |

Many of us want to avoid driving in winter weather or on icy roads. Driving in these conditions can be challenging and create anxiety, no matter how experienced a driver you are.

When the roads are bad, you should adjust your driving habits. This is one of the most important points to remember.

Even if you are sure to be late to your destination by driving slower and using extra care, statistics show that driving “as usual” significantly increases your chance of a serious car accident. According to the American Highway Users Alliance, over 116,800 injuries each year are caused by snowy or icy conditions.

In addition to driving slower, here are some additional tips to help keep you safe in winter weather.

Give yourself extra time to get to your destination

Pay attention to the weather forecast so you know when you should leave to arrive on time even if the trip takes you longer. Today’s weather apps can provide detailed, hourly information about weather conditions, which makes it easier to estimate what time you should leave.

Check the temperature. Remember that the temperature in your vehicle is not the same as the outside temperature. Ice on road signs or outside of your vehicle is often a sign of slippery road conditions.

Speed up or slow down slowly. Keep a safe driving distance between other vehicles to avoid the need to slam on your breaks. Accelerating and decelerating slowly prevents you from spinning out or veering into another lane and colliding with another vehicle.

Steer into the skid

If you do start to slide, take your foot off the gas and turn your vehicle in the same direction that the back of your vehicle is sliding. This is called steering into the skid.

Do not use cruise control. You want to be in complete control of your vehicle in icy conditions.

While you should always avoid distracted driving, this is even more important in winter weather. Keep your attention on the road and focus only on driving. Put away your phone. It might also help to turn off music or anything else you normally listen to when driving to help you concentrate.

What to do after a winter car accident

You can be the safest winter weather driver out there and still find yourself the victim of a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence. Sometimes you cannot avoid an unsafe driver.

Stay with your vehicle after an accident and do not try to walk away in winter weather. Wait for help to arrive.

When you are injured by a negligent driver, you could recover compensation through a personal injury claim. Do not admit fault for the accident to the other driver or police officers who respond to the accident.

The contributory negligence rule

Maryland follows a contributory negligence standard, which means you cannot recover any compensation for the accident if any amount of your own negligence contributed to the accident.

This is a strict law and requires you to prove that the other driver was 100% responsible for the accident. This is why it is best to say nothing after an accident and work on building a case. Accidents in winter weather often involve serious injuries and you cannot afford to leave anything to chance.

FindLaw Network