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How to avoid winter car accidents

On Behalf of | Dec 30, 2020 | car accidents

When winter arrives in Indiana, the roads become more dangerous than ever. Snow, ice, hail and sleet can all cause accidents, particularly if you’re driving an older vehicle. Here are some of the most common causes of car accidents and how you can avoid them.

How can you avoid winter car accidents?

One of the most common types of winter motor vehicle accidents is rear-end collisions. If you start to slide on the ice, hitting the brakes can make your car spin out of control. You could easily slam into the car in front of you and cause a rear-end collision. To prevent this type of accident, you should always keep a wide distance between yourself and the nearest vehicle. This gives you more time to react if you hit an icy patch on the road.

Lane drifting accidents also become more frequent during the winter months. In the summer, it’s easy to see the yellow lines on the highway. But when winter arrives, snow and ice can obscure the highway lines and make it difficult to see where you’re going. You may think you’re driving in the right lane when you’re really in the center of the road. If another car comes barreling down the other side, it could smack into your vehicle.

When snow covers the highway, try following the tracks of other vehicles, so you can stay within your lane. You should also keep an eye out for other cars on the road, so you can react quickly if you’re in the way.

Who can help you if you get into an accident?

Bad weather conditions might have caused a car accident, but that doesn’t mean that the other driver is off the hook. Depending on the situation, your attorney could help you deal with the insurance company or file a lawsuit.