Florida Car Accident Lawyer Blog
Florida car accidents related to snow and winter weather are rare. However, if you are driving to snowier states soon, here are some winter-driving issues to consider
1) Ice flying off of trucks and other cars. Snow and ice flying off of cars and trucks can easily cover your windshield, or even impact your vehicle, causing you to become momentarily blinded or even to lose control of the car. When driving in winter or wet conditions, stay well back from trucks, since they will churn up a lot of snow and rain which can hurt your visibility and can easily lead to a Florida truck accident. As well, make sure that your windshield wipers are in good condition and can handle snow. If you park outside and your car is covered in snow and ice, scrape that off (especially off the roof) before driving – snow from your roof can easily slide on your windshield as you drive, blocking your view.
2) Obstructions of snow and ice. Snow and ice piled high on roadways can scrape the bottom of your car and even damage it. You can also lose control of your vehicle driving over this obstruction and cause an accident. If you see a large pile of snow in the street, drive around it carefully.
3) Huge snow banks. Snow banks block visibility, making it hard for traffic to see you when you come out of a side street or driveway. If your view is blocked by a snow bank, flash your headlights so that other drivers can see you coming and edge out slowly until you can see oncoming traffic before pulling out into traffic.
4) Reduced street parking spots. In most cities, drivers are required to park within a foot of the curb. When curbs become covered in snow and snow spills into the street, it can be hard to determine where a parking spot actually is. This can be an especial problem with street parking, where drivers need to leave enough space for emergency vehicles and other cars to get through. If you park in a spot where you are blocking plows or emergency vehicles, you will be ticketed, so that it is often safer to park further away or to pay for a parking spot indoors when streets get really snowy and you can’t get a parking spot that does not block traffic. When parking, make sure there is at least a 12-foot pass for emergency vehicles to get through.
5) Insurance woes. Keep in mind that your insurance company may expect you to pay a surcharge if you cause an accident, even if the cause of an accident was poor visibility due to a snow bank or poor parking due to a snowy parking spot. In most states, there are no exceptions for accidents caused by winter weather and surcharges are automatic, meaning that weather-related accidents can end up costing you extra, even if Jack Frost is really to blame. However, you can appeal the surcharge if the accident was caused by bad weather.
If you have been injured in a Florida car accident, contact the Flaxman Law Group, the experienced legal team serving Miami, Homestead, and Hollywood. Arrange for a free initial consultation with the Flaxman Law Group to learn about your rights and your legal options. That way, you can make a decision about your case from a position of strength.