Georgia Injury Law Blog
With treacherous weather and road conditions this winter, the Georgia Department of Transportation has been working overtime to keep roads safer for motorists and to help drivers understand the various auto accident risks they face while driving.
Driving conditions in Georgia have become progressively worse in December as winter has set in, making roads slippery and covering them with treacherous black ice. Black ice is a very dangerous condition that often results in auto accidents every winter. Transportation officials are warning motorists to look out for black ice, especially as they travel over bridges and overpasses. Look out also for fallen trees or power lines, due to stormy and windy conditions this winter.
The Georgia Department of Transportation also wants motorists to know that department dump trucks will be dumping salt and gravel on icy roads. If you see one of these trucks, avoid following too close to the truck. The tires might kick up gravel that could actually shatter your glass, injuring you or your passengers. Instead, leave a gap of at least 100 feet between your vehicle and the truck.
Georgia Department of Transportation employees will be doing much to keep the roads ice -free and clear for motorists to drive. It is important for motorists also to do their bit to remain safe. Research the route that you are traveling in advance and avoid routes that may be dangerous to drive on. Check your weather alerts before you begin a long journey this festive season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio provides emergency alerts.
Avoid driving at night time as much as possible. Driving at night is especially treacherous during winter when black ice is almost impossible to spot. If it is possible to postpone driving to the daytime, do so. It is easier to spot slippery ice in the daytime. Keep your speeds lower than the normal posted speed limits on roads that are very slippery or wet. Avoid driving too close to other passenger vehicles. Remember that sudden braking on slippery roads is a recipe for disaster.
Make sure your car has a winter supply kit already for emergencies. Ideally, your kit should include bottled water, snacks, a torch light, jumper cables, mittens, warm clothes and a blanket. Also make sure your kit includes a phone charger, tire chains, flares and snow tires. A first aid supply kit that includes treatments for hypothermia and frostbite should be mandatory in your car. Make sure that your fuel tank is full before you set out in poor weather conditions.
The Atlanta car accident lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to a lawyer at our firm and discuss your legal options for a claim for damages. You may qualify for compensation that includes economic damages like medical costs, lost income as well as non – economic damages and other types of compensation. Talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.