Bad Weather can Lead to Bad Accidents
Joseph Monaco, PA & NJ Trial Lawyer
Call or text 609-277-3166 in New Jersey or 215-546-3166, in Pennsylvania
I urge everyone to be extra careful this winter in light of the extremely low temperatures we have been experiencing. Unfortunately, bad weather can lead to bad accidents. Right after a major snow storm, everyone is usually on heightened alert for dangerous conditions including slippery roads and walkways. However, extremely low temperatures can lead to icy roads and walkways long after a winter storm ends. It is especially critical to look for black ice that can lead to falls and auto accidents. Did you know that rock salt (sodium chloride) loses most of its effectiveness below 15 degrees. At such low temperatures, it can be very difficult to determine whether a road is wet or covered with black ice especially without rock salt being able to prevent the freezing.
How to Keep Pennsylvania and New Jersey Properties Safe in Bad Weather
As a property owner, the best way to keep your property safe is to perform thorough snow and ice removal as soon as possible. This will allow you to remove the snow and ice down to the surface. That way, you can limit low temperatures turning your driveway or walkway into black ice. Using calcium chloride instead of rock salt will also help. Calcium chloride is more expensive but it is effective down to -25 degrees. Also, try to avoid pouring rock salt or calcium chloride on top of snow and ice. This can cause melting and refreezing, especially with the very low temperatures this winter.
How to Drive in Bad Weather
As a driver, take your time and be patient of other drivers who may fear driving in bad weather more than you do. Here is something to think about the next time you get behind the wheel. An auto travels almost 15 feet per second for every ten mph it is moving. If you are driving 40 mph, you will cover almost 60 feet in one second. Now think how long it will take you to observe a hazard and apply your brakes to avoid it. If that takes just two seconds, your vehicle will have already traveled about 120 feet before you even applied your brakes. If you had been more careful and driven slower, the distance traveled per second would have been drastically reduced. The point is: SLOW DOWN for bad weather and possibly icy roads. You will not have enough time to react and avoid a hazard if your speed is too high for conditions. And it goes without saying that you should always avoid texting and talking on your phone while driving.
Hopefully, you will not be the victim of someone else’s careless or reckless behavior during bad weather. However, it is important that you have an experienced Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Lawyer if you or a family member is injured or killed in an accident. Call or text me, Joseph Monaco, at 609-277-3166 in New Jersey or 215-546-3166, in Pennsylvania if you are seeking legal representation.
Published 02/15/2015
