Fall will soon turn to winter and as many of us know, with winter, comes snow. While snow can be beautiful, it can also lead to dangerous driving conditions on the road. If you are planning to drive this winter, there are steps you can take to help prevent injuries or death. Check out this guide from our Naugatuck personal injury attorney.
Be Prepared – Whether this is your first Connecticut winter or you are a hardened veteran of Northeast winters, it doesn’t hurt to always be prepared. Before temperatures start to drop, prepare a winter survival kit for your car, which includes:
- Ice scraper
- Flashlight
- Sand and salt
- Jumper cables
- Water and non-perishable snacks
- First-aid kit
- Safety emergency blanket
- Snow shovel
Make sure scheduled maintenance is up-to-date – The worst thing that could happen would be for you to get stuck in a snow storm because of a preventable mechanical failure. Before the months start to get cold, have your mechanic check out your car’s fluids, belts, hoses and other systems. If you live in an area that sees a significant amount of snow, consider having snow tires installed.
Learn how to brake on slippery surfaces – West Coast transplants may not be as familiar with how to break on wet surfaces so you may want to start doing some research. Most cars made after 2004 have antilock braking systems which allow your wheels to maintain tractive contact with the road surface while breaking, but if your vehicle is older than 2004, you might not have this feature. Check your owner’s manual for more information on whether or not your car has this feature.
Keep Your Car at Half a Tank – If you are able to keep your car at half a tank at all times, this can be helpful to ensure you have a source of heat if you are stuck or stranded in a snowstorm.
We at Fitzpatrick Santos Sousa Perugini P.C hope you and your family have a safe winter this year. While we hope people are not injured, we understand that accidents happen. If you or a loved one was injured by a negligent driver, our skilled Naugatuck personal injury attorney could help you fight for proper compensation for your injuries.