Car accidents are a serious concern all year round, but winter weather poses an additional risk. Snow and ice create hazardous driving conditions and make it harder to control a car, and drivers need to be able to act quickly and respond correctly to dangerous conditions. When roads are slippery, and winter conditions affect visibility, a seemingly minor mistake can have deadly results. These issues can become even more serious if drivers fail to fully pay attention to the road. While distracted driving is a serious issue at any time of year, it can be even more dangerous during the winter.

Why Distracted Driving Is Riskier in Winter

During the winter, ice and snow make it much harder for drivers to control their vehicles. Split-second decisions often need to be made quickly and with precision. Because vehicles may take longer to slow down and stop on snowy or icy roads, and because a driver can lose control more easily, it is crucial to be able to respond as quickly as possible to events and changing conditions. If a vehicle in front of a person slows down suddenly, or if a pedestrian enters the road unexpectedly, a driver will need to be able to react quickly. If a driver's attention is divided between the road and their phone or other distractions, then there may not be enough time for those quick decisions to be made safely, and a driver will be more likely to lose control when they slam on their brakes or attempt to swerve. 

Another reason why distracted driving is riskier in wintertime is that visibility decreases. Heavy snow or fog can make it much more difficult to see the road and other vehicles. Even if the sun is out, cold temperatures can lead to foggy windshields and limited visibility due to ice buildup on windows or mirrors. When drivers cannot see where they are going clearly, they will be more likely to miss important details. Any distractions can make a dangerous situation even worse, since this may cause a driver to look away from the road, causing them to fail to see what is happening around them.

A car accident can be a harrowing experience. In the blink of an eye, your vehicle can be damaged or totaled, and you or your passengers can be seriously injured. Every day, thousands of car accidents occur on roads and highways across the United States. While some of these accidents are caused by weather or road conditions, many are the result of driver error, including violations of traffic laws and actions by drivers that put other people at risk of harm. Here are 5 traffic violations that commonly lead to car accidents:

1. Speeding

Drivers who travel faster than the posted speed limit are more likely to be involved in serious accidents. Speeding makes it more difficult for a person to control their vehicle, and it leaves them less time to react to hazards on the road. Additionally, speeding can increase the severity of an accident by causing vehicles to collide with greater force. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding is a factor in nearly one-third of all fatal car accidents. 

All drivers are aware of the risks of car accidents. When vehicles share the roads and travel at high speeds, what may seem like minor errors by drivers can have deadly results. Because of this, drivers usually take care to drive safely and protect themselves against harm. However, accidents can still occur, and people can be seriously injured through no fault of their own. What many people may not realize is that the risks of being involved in a car crash have increased in recent years. Since 2015, the rate of fatal car accidents in the United States has risen significantly, and some people have been affected by these trends more than others.

Increases in Serious and Fatal Car Crashes

Since the 1970s, the number of car accident deaths in the United States has steadily declined due to the implementation of vehicle safety features, campaigns against dangerous behaviors such as drunk driving, and other factors. However, this trend began to reverse itself starting in 2015. While experts have speculated about the reasons for this change, one factor seems to be the increased use of smartphones. In that year, around two-thirds of adults in the United States owned a smartphone, and this has led to an increase in distracted driving due to texting or making phone calls while behind the wheel.

The rate of fatal accidents has increased even more significantly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The number of deaths in car accidents has risen by around 20 percent over the past two years. While people initially speculated that this increase was caused by fewer vehicles on the roads, which encouraged speeding, the rate of fatal accidents has stayed the same even after the country opened back up and traffic returned to its normal levels. Multiple factors may be contributing to this issue, including increased levels of drug and alcohol use, as well as higher levels of stress that may lead people to engage in dangerous or impulsive behavior while behind the wheel.

Motor vehicle accidents come in many different forms. They may involve one car or multiple vehicles, they may take place at high or low speeds, and they may be caused by multiple factors. Rollover accidents can be some of the most dangerous collisions, and when a vehicle turns over onto its side or roof, the driver or passengers can suffer multiple types of serious injuries. By understanding the reasons why these accidents occur, victims can determine who was responsible, and they may be able to pursue financial compensation for their injuries and damages.

Reasons Why Rollover Crashes Occur

A car, truck, or other vehicle may turn over because of:

• Driver error - Many single-vehicle rollover accidents take place because a driver failed to drive safely. For example, if a driver is traveling much higher than the speed limit, their vehicle may roll over when they attempt to make a tight turn. Drivers may also lose control due to factors such as distracted driving, causing them to strike guardrails or other objects that cause their vehicle to turn over. In addition to causing injuries for the driver, these accidents may result in harm to passengers, or a vehicle may strike other cars, pedestrians, or bicyclists after rolling over.

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By: Paralegal Ruth Campos

Those who are involved in car accidents are likely to experience a number of different types of difficulties. In high-speed collisions or other serious cases, emergency medical treatment may be needed, and a victim may receive multiple forms of ongoing care. Even in seemingly minor collisions, a person’s vehicle is likely to be damaged, requiring expensive repairs. In many cases, car accident victims will be covered by the insurance policy of the driver who was at fault for the collision. However, if a driver did not have the required insurance coverage, this may leave victims unsure about their options and uncertain about how they will address their financial expenses and other ways they have been affected.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

In situations where an at-fault driver is uninsured, others involved in an accident will usually be able to receive coverage under their own auto insurance policy. Wisconsin law requires liability insurance policies to include uninsured motorist coverage. The minimum limits for this coverage are the same as the minimum limits for liability insurance: $25,000 for the bodily injury or death per person, $50,000 for the bodily injury or death per accident, and $1,000 of medical payments coverage per person.