It’s no secret that the rate of car crashes increases when winter weather is at its peak. Typically, many cities across the United States seem to shut down when winter storms hit. Schools are closed, flights are cancelled, and motorists stay home. New York City, for example, recently closed Manhattan to vehicular traffic of any kind when it was hit with a major winter storm. My husband was stranded in Manhattan for 4 days due to cancelled flights and could be heard loudly to complain about this, given that his experience with our airport here in Salt Lake City is that with very few exceptions, its rare closures are never weather related.
Utah cities, unlike other cities across our nation, seem to keep moving at full speed and rarely shut down when severe weather hits. Perhaps Utah residents are used to snowy driving conditions during Utah’s long winters and do not wish to adjust their schedules to accommodate the weather. Whatever the reason may be, Utah drivers generally do not shy away from driving their vehicles on snow-packed roads in blizzard conditions. Unfortunately, car crashes become inevitable when winter storms hit, and Utah motorists should try to avoid driving in such conditions when possible.
As the winter storms continue to roll in, car accidents are definitely on the rise along the Wasatch front. One Salt Lake City news channel reported over 100 car crashes this past weekend along the Wasatch front as a result of the winter storm. The consequences of these crashes can be significant, lasting and even tragic. Drivers should consider whether that trip to the store is worth the possibility of being involved in a car crash that could permanently change the life they once knew by causing a serious or fatal injury to themselves or someone else.
Aside from the physical damage to the vehicles involved in a car crash, there are more serious consequences to consider including physical injuries to the drivers and their passengers. If those involved in the crash survive, they are then faced with the task of getting and paying for appropriate medical care for their injuries and fighting with insurance companies to pay their claims. While the best choice during and immediately following a significant storm is to stay off the roads and avoid driving, if you must drive and find yourself involved in an auto accident, you should definitely seek the aid and expertise of a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. It is important for a person injured in an auto accident to have legal representation as early in the process as possible to ensure that the accident is properly investigated and that the proper steps are taken to make sure the injured person receives appropriate medical care and is adequately compensated for injuries sustained as a result of the negligence of another driver.
At Cutt, Kendell & Olson, we specialize in helping people injured by the negligence of others. We have decades of experience and specialized expertise in handling auto-claims, and we are here to help you in your time of need. Should you find yourself involved in a car crash this winter season, give us a call and we will do everything we can to ensure you are properly compensated for your losses.