Ohio is one of the most dangerous states for wintertime driving. A recent analysis of three years of crash data determined that Ohio was the fourth most dangerous state for winter driving, and had the second-highest number of winter road fatalities.
The state has consistently ranked among the most dangerous for winter driving for several years. Though Ohio isn’t near the top of the list for snowfall, the annual average of more than 26 inches is plenty to create some hazards for motorists.
Often, we hear about car and truck crashes that happen “due to snow and ice” or “because of the weather,” but snow, ice, and other winter weather conditions are just one variable. The choices you make as a driver significantly increase or decrease the likelihood that you’ll be involved in a winter traffic accident. If you find yourself in a difficult situation on the road, make sure to reach out to a Dayton car accident attorney right away.
Staying safe on snowy and icy Ohio roads starts before you ever get behind the wheel, with safety measures such as:
Many safe driving tips for winter are similar to everyday safe driving practices, but are all the more important in winter and may require adjustment on snowy and icy roads or when visibility is low. For instance:
Make sure you maintain a safe following distance. You’ve likely heard that under normal conditions, you should maintain a following distance of two, three, or four seconds. That means when the car in front of you passes a fixed object like a road sign, it should take you a minimum of two seconds to reach the same object yourself. But, winter road conditions often mean it will take longer to slow or stop, and that the risk of skidding out of control if you’re forced to brake quickly is greater. That means a larger gap–ideally, at least eight seconds–is safer.
Pay attention! Distracted driving is a danger on any road, during any season. The risks associated with taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds increase when visibility is low, roads are slick, and reaction time may be critical.
Adapt your speed to the conditions. When blowing snow makes it hard to see, roads are slippery, or there’s a danger of black ice, the posted speed limit might not be the safe speed limit.
Assume the worst. A road that looks clear may be harboring dangerous black ice. When conditions are right for roads to be slick, be vigilant. Increase following distance even if you don’t see hazards in your immediate path, especially if there have been black ice warnings.
Slippery roads and low visibility play a role in winter traffic accidents. But, that doesn’t mean a traffic crash on snowy roads is “just an accident” and nobody’s fault.
The key questions are:
A driver who is driving too fast for conditions, distracted, or following too close may be partly or fully responsible for the accident. Similarly, a motorist who hasn’t taken the trouble to install appropriate tires or whose brakes fail due to poor maintenance may bear responsibility for a traffic crash.
In some cases, the entity responsible for designing, constructing, or maintaining roads may be responsible or partly responsible for a snow-related traffic crash. The fact that there’s snow and ice on the road typically won’t be enough to trigger liability. But, if there are dangerous conditions that the responsible party knew about or should have known about and failed to fix, they may be liable.
Imagine, for example, that there’s a spot at the bottom of a slight hill on the highway where water routinely pools. In winter, the water periodically freezes, meaning drivers may hit an unexpected patch of ice at the bottom of the hill. If the city or state responsible for road maintenance knows about the hazard (or should) and hasn’t taken steps to repair it or to warn drivers of the hazard, they may be liable for an accident that occurs when an unsuspecting driver hits that patch of ice.
Who bears legal responsibility for a traffic crash depends on a variety of factors, and in some cases, there may be more than one responsible party. A driver who was partially responsible may even be able to recover some compensation. An experienced Ohio car accident attorney can help assess who may bear or share responsibility for your accident.
If you’ve been involved in a traffic accident, get in touch with us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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Before establishing Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A., Doug Mann, a top Ohio Injury Attorney served as a bodily injury claims adjuster at a major insurance firm. With over 40+ years of experience, Doug’s background has proven invaluable in securing maximum cash settlements for his clients swiftly. Since leaving the insurance industry, Doug has devoted his entire legal career to assisting injured clients during their times of greatest need.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Doug Mann who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury attorney.
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