Introduction
Accidents waiting to happen increase during the winter season as certain phenomena such as snow fall, reduced visibility, and ice formation contribute to driving challenges. This issue can be tackled if the driver is well informed and fully equipped when winter driving. This article aims to delve into the intricacies of tips for driving in winter, examining how medical record examination review is relevant to lawyers that handle winter accident cases, and some tips from winter accident lawyers to clients.
Understanding Winter Driving Risks
Current Statistics on Winter Driving Accidents
Every year, black ice contributes to a lot of accidents, and due to the season and weather, black ice remains unnoticed until it is too late. It greatly contributes to more than 1300 deaths and 116,800 injuries. Snow, fog and other weather conditions also make it quite difficult for drivers to travel and put them at significant risk.
Common Causes of Winter Accidents
- Freezing Cold Roads: Ice that goes undetected until it way too late to do anything about it.
- Bad Weather: Winter storms and heavy fog makes it difficult for the driver to see cars and road signs.
- Substandard Drivers: Poor decision making because of driving experience on slippery road.
- Car Issues: Ice formation along with low temperatures shatters the vehicle and it causes malfunctions.
Essential Winter Driving Tips
1. Prepare Your Vehicle
- Check Tire Condition: Make sure tires have enough grip and air, and check if they are ready for snow.
- Check Your Battery: A battery can lose power when the weather is cold. Check your battery before winter kicks in.
- Level of Fluids: Ensure to have oil that can work well in cold weather, and have washer fluid that is effective in the winter.
2. Adjust Your Driving Habits
- Reduce Speed: Always lower your speed limit in winter to minimum- this helps you to avoid slippery circumstances, and ensures the vehicle can stop reasonably on snow or ice.
- Keep More Space: The distance between your car and the one in front of you should be more than usual for the winter season to enable extra distance for braking.
- No Jerky Movements: For better control, ensure all turns, braking, and acceleration is gradual.
3. Use Headlights Wisely
- Increase Visibility: In fog or heavy snow, always ensure to turn your head lamps on.
- For night time, let your daytime running lights on to improve visibility for other people.
4. Know How to Handle Skids
- Keep Calm: Always rely on body control instead of slamming on the brakes when your vehicle starts to skid.
- Skidding Direction: Since the skidding will always be pulling you towards the direction of the rear end of the vehicle, turn your steering wheel towards the front of the vehicle.
5. Plan Your Route
- Have A Look At The Weather: Before you travel, ensure that you review the forecast and road conditions.
- Don’t Make An Unneeded Trip: If the weather is too extreme, maybe wait for a while before traveling.
6. Keep an Emergency Kit
- Basic Items: Ensure you add on blankets, flashlight, non-perishable foods, water, and first aid kits to the pack.
- Gear: Keep a shovel, ice scraper, and jumper cables handy just in case something happens.
7. Stay Informed
- Traffic Situation: There is application and websites that offer traffic and road block updates so make sure you keep tabs on that.
- Weather and Road Updates: Create an account to get updates on weather and road conditions in your locality.
The Role of Medical Record Review in Winter Accident Cases
Understanding Medical Record Review
Medical record review is an essential part of personal injury claims, especially with accidents related to winter driving. It is a meticulous evaluation of the medical records that focuses on how people were injured, treated, and how it fundamentally affected their lives.
How Medical Record Review Benefits Attorneys
- Proof of Injury Degree: Lawyers are able to resourcefully prove how bad the victim got hurt because of proper documentation.
- Damages Assessment: Documents of medical records are indispensable when computing for damages – both economic and non-economic.
- Strengthening Legal Arguments: Comprehensive medical documentation can bolster a case, making it more compelling in negotiations or court.
Case Studies
Case Study 1: Mark’s Icy Road Accident
Overview: A 42-year-old Mark went through an icy patch, causing him to lose control of his car and crash into another vehicle.
Challenges: Mark broke his wrist which needed to be fixed with surgical procedures. The insurance company had problems accepting the magnitude of his injuries.
Solutions: The medical records were complete and more importantly, the accounts of Mark’s injuries, treatment protocols, surgical procedures, and rehabilitation exercises were meticulously noted.
Case Study 2: Lisa’s Snowstorm Incident
Overview: A 30-year-old Lisa crashed into many cars while trying to navigate through a snowstorm.
Challenges: Lisa was suffering from whiplash and other injuries with esoteric tissues. Proving liability was a concern because of the number of parties in the case.
Solutions: A detailed summary of the medical records provided insight to the severity of Lisa’s injuries and the treatment she received physically across the board, as well as the subsequent medical appointments. Some of this information was not required but was important to paint an almost accurate picture of how the accident affects her day-to-day life.
Conclusion
During the winter season, there are increased risks associated with winter conditions and therefore extra care and precautions must be taken so as to not compromise safety on the roads. By practicing these essential winter driving tips, drivers are able to limit the number of possible accidents. Furthermore, knowing how medical records are analyzed in litigation assists the lawyers in properly representing their clients. Moreover, while it is true that advising these kinds of risks is very complex, drivers must remember that safety comes first at all times, especially while winter conditions persist.
