Wintry mix could lead to car accident

On behalf of Terence Gross of Gross & Schuster, P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Tuesday, January 28, 2014.

It’s a good thing we are not meteorologists. In a post we wrote earlier this month, we said that it was not likely that we would see temperatures dip below 32 degrees again. Unfortunately, we were wrong.  The latest blast of arctic air is sending temperatures across the Gulf Coast region plunging into another freeze.

According to an ABC News.com report, popular winter getaway destinations, including New Orleans, Louisiana; Pensacola, Florida; and Savannah, Georgia could see snow and ice over the next two days. The next winter blast is also expected to hit beaches in North and South Carolina. Here in Florida, up to an inch of snow and ice is expected over the next two days.

Because of this, authorities are asking people to be conscientious and stay off icy roads until warmer weather comes through the region. While icy weather is not unheard of, it is rare that southern cities see so many days with such low temperatures.

In the meantime, we feel it is worth reminding our readers of the dangers that icy roads present. The slippery surfaces can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles while negotiating tight curves or making evasive actions. An otherwise safe move could quickly lead to a spinout. To deal with this threat, it is helpful to slow down and keep additional space between cars so that if sudden moves (or stops) are necessary, the likelihood of an accident can be reduced.

If an accident occurs, and it is later discovered that an offending driver did not slow down or followed a car too closely, the driver could be held liable for the crash.

Source: ABC News.com, “Winter storm socks the south with snow, ice,” Russ Bynum, January28, 2014