Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Charlotte Personal Injury Attorney Matt Arnold answers the question: ” If an incident report was filled out, do I have a right to receive a copy?”
A polar vortex that took over parts of the Midwest caused entire cities to virtually shut down, schools to close, mail to be delayed, and threatened the health of individuals for just going outside. While here in North Carolina, we were not subject to those bone chilling temperatures, the weather the Midwest has faced this winter is a good reminder to keep safe when driving in the winter months. The following are some tips that drivers should remember when driving in North Carolina during the winter.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, nearly 400,000 people are injured and 5,000 killed because of weather related car crashes each year in this country. While we can not change the weather or control the actions of other drivers on the roads, it is important that each individual driver takes the necessary precautions while driving, especially during the winter months.
Prep Your Car
One of the best ways decrease your chances of being in an accident is to make sure that your vehicle is prepared for the winter weather. Keep a full gas tank during the winter, especially when big storms are expected. You do not want to be stuck out in a snowstorm without enough gas to keep your vehicle running. In addition to keeping a full gas tank, make sure that your battery is working property, your windshield wipers are in good condition, your oil has been recently changed, and your antifreeze levels are appropriate. When driving in the winter, it is also important to have properly inflated tires with enough traction to get you through the snow. Get bald tires replaced and rotated regularly.
Drive Slowly
In inclement weather, it is especially important to follow the speed limit, or even drive more slowly. If roads are icy or wet, it can take longer for a vehicle to come to a stop. The faster a car is going, the longer it will take it to come to a sudden stop, especially on icy roads. In addition to driving slowly, you should increase the distance between your car and the car in front of you. This will allow you to have more time to avoid rear-ending the vehicle in front of you in the event that they stop short.
When in Doubt, Stay Off the Road
Unless there is an emergency, driving in inclement weather should be avoided at all costs. Of course, going to work or school can be necessary during snow storms, fog, or rain, but try to avoid driving in inclement weather. If you are out driving and do not feel safe, pull over where it is safe, put on your flashers, and wait until you can safely navigate the road. You can also call a friend or relative to come get you if you are unable to drive.
Winter weather can be unpredictable in North Carolina. Weather related incidents can be just as unpredictable. If you have been in an accident because of the winter weather, the personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are here for you. Contact us today for a consultation and find out what options are available to you to receive the compensation to which you are entitled. Now taking cases throughout the Charlotte region with offices in Uptown Charlotte, Mooresville and the new location under renovation in Monroe, call us at 704-370-2828 or click here for additional resources.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/us/weather-polar-vortex.html
https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/q1_roadimpact.htm
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/winter-1401917
See Our Related Video from our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArnoldSmithPLLC/videos
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