WINTER INCREASES PERSONAL INJURY RISK

In addition to bringing cold weather and shorter days, winter also brings with it the increased risk of personal injury. The combination of winter weather conditions and holiday parties fueled by alcohol leads to an uptick in car accidents and slip and fall incidents.

The most dangerous conditions to be aware of:

• Snow, slush and ice on the roads. Black ice, in particular, is very dangerous because it cannot be seen.
• Many car owners do not equip their vehicles with winter tires or let their tires’ tread become bare.
• Lack of experience or caution while driving in winter conditions
• More darkness decreases visibility
• Winter storms decrease visibility

Source: lawyers.com

Couple these weather conditions with crowded roads and inebriated drivers and that is a recipe for disaster. While some of these issues are unavoidable, it’s important to be proactive where possible to avoid personal injury.

• Minimize night driving unless absolutely necessary. It’s harder to see hazards and visibility is lowered.
• Check your tire tread. Bald tires can’t grip on the road well and will leave you more vulnerable to sliding.
• Know your limits. Have you grown up most of your life in Florida and never really seen, let alone driven, in snow and ice? Maybe you aren’t the ideal driver for the day, leave it to those who have more experience navigating in winter weather conditions.

Stay safe out there and everyone has a wonderful holiday!