Chicago Car Accident Attorney - Article

Safe Driving in Icy Weather

Car accidents are a common cause of personal injuries, especially during the icy winter months. Here at the offices of Chicago personal injury attorneys Friedman & Bonebrake, we are concerned about the health and safety of our clients and their families. Please review the following safety tips for driving on ice, for your own safety as well as other drivers’.

Tips for Driving on Ice

• Be sure to practice. If you are new to Chicago and unfamiliar with icy conditions, or if you have recently learned to drive, be sure to get in plenty of practice before you take to the streets in winter weather. Even if you are a seasoned Chicago driver, it never hurts to sharpen your skills after months of warmer weather. Find an empty parking lot or rarely-used road to rehearse turning, stopping, and slowly accelerating on ice.
• Give yourself plenty of room to stop. It can take much longer for cars to stop in icy conditions, so try to keep about three times as much space between your car and the one ahead of you as you normally would.
• Slow down. During winter weather, it can be very dangerous to stop suddenly or swerve if a person or animal steps in front your car. Drive more slowly than you usually would to make it easier to keep an eye on your surroundings and respond to any surprises.
• Be careful on bridges and rarely-used roads. These areas can be icy even when major roads are clear, especially during wet conditions. To be safe, don’t make any assumptions.
• Avoid using cruise control on icy roads. You need to be able to react quickly if anything unexpected happens.

Negligent Winter Drivers

Sadly, many people do not follow these basic rules, and all too often, other people get hurt as a result. If you or a loved one has been injured by a negligent driver, contact Chicago car accident injury lawyers Friedman & Bonebrake at 312-466-8200.