Motor vehicle accidents in Indiana and around the country kill tens of thousands of road users each year, and the vast majority of them involve drivers who behaved recklessly or made a mistake of some kind. Some accidents occur when drivers become fatigued, distracted or get behind the wheel after taking drugs or drinking, and others take place because motorists do not reduce speed in treacherous conditions like dense fog, driving rain or blinding snow.
Winter driving
In states like Indiana, car accidents caused by adverse weather conditions are particularly common in the winter months. When ice and snow make road surfaces slippery, motorists should slow down, maintain safe distances and be ready to react to emergency situations. They should also make sure that their vehicles are in good working order and their tires have good tread before venturing out onto the roads. However, many of them fail to take these precautions and drive in winter storms the same way they would on a clear summer day.
Police overwhelmed
This is what happened on Dec. 16 when about two inches of snow fell in Indiana. The resulting road conditions caused chaos during the morning commute, and emergency services across the state were soon overwhelmed. Tractor-trailers overturned, highways closed down and the Fort Wayne Police Department announced that they could no longer respond to property damage accidents.
Duty of care
Drivers owe a duty of care to other road users that requires them to remain vigilant and do everything they can to avoid crashing. When this duty of care is not met, experienced personal injury attorney may file car accident lawsuits on behalf of those who suffer harm as a direct consequence. This kind of lawsuit could seek damages to compensate accident victims for their lost income, medical bills, pain and suffering, and property damage.
