Road safety in Massachusetts during the winter months

On behalf of Aiken and Aiken P.C. Personal Injury Attorneys posted in Car Accidents, on Monday, January 11, 2016

Winter driving conditions in Massachusetts can be extremely treacherous, but data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that modest amounts of snow or ice can be even more hazardous for drivers than full-blown winter storms and blizzards. According to the NHTSA, almost a quarter of the motor vehicle accidents that occurred between 2004 and 2013 on the nation’s roads were caused by weather conditions, and snow, ice or slush were responsible for nearly half of these crashes.While motorists will usually slow down dramatically when weather conditions are extremely poor, they may keep driving at regular speeds when snow has only recently began to fall or ice has only just started to form. Experts say that drivers often only realize that road conditions have deteriorated when they lose traction or are involved in a collision. Heavy snow that accumulates quickly is even more dangerous for drivers, and it can lead to pile-ups involving dozens of vehicles when motorists fail to slow down and drive with more caution. The sophisticated climate control systems and plethora of modern conveniences found in most new vehicles have also been blamed by some safety advocates for disconnecting motorists from the world outside and lulling them into false feelings of security. When winter weather that many Massachusetts residents would consider mild struck the state on Jan. 4, police responded to the scene of 17 auto accidents involving 29 vehicles. These crashes occurred even though weather advisories had been issued in the early morning hours and then repeated at about 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.Drivers who fail to take adequate precautions during inclement weather may be held responsible when their reckless actions cause accidents that injure or kill other road users. Personal injury attorneys may introduce police reports, witness statements and video footage to establish that vehicles were being driven in an unsafe manner during lawsuits brought on behalf of accident victims who have been harmed.