Tips for Driving in the Ohio Snow

Besides the property damage overconfident drivers induce, their carelessness can result in various damages like:

• Medical bills;
• Lost wages because of injury recovery; and
• Pain and suffering.

Don’t mistake a familiarity with snow with an expertise for driving in it. Follow the tips below when driving in Cleveland's winter snow this season.

Tips for Driving in the Snow in Ohio

Follow these tips from the Ohio Committee for Severe Winter Awareness to bring your snow driving up to standard:

• The first step: decide if you really need to go out in the snow. Something that seems urgent may not be so urgent when you think about the driving effort it takes to get it done.

• Before driving, clean your windows to improve your vision. If you need to clean them again while driving, exit to a safe spot.

• Clean snow from your headlights and brake lights to improve visibility.
• If you do venture out remember: Ice and Snow…Take It Slow! Give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination so you avoid rushing.

• Keep a safe distance between yourself and other cars, and keep in mind that skidding increases the crash likelihood if following another car too closely.

• Next, learn how to brake. You either have anti-lock brakes or not. For anti-lock brakes, you need to press the brake firmly and hold that position. Standard brakes require a gentle pumping motion. Knowing how to brake helps prevent skidding and sliding that may result in crashes.

• Do not do sudden steering maneuvers or use cruise control. Both are dangerous in the snow.

Driving in the Snow and Liability

Finding out that the snow doesn’t absolve one from liability in a car wreck can be surprising for some people. Keep in mind that in most circumstances adverse weather conditions still requires one to drive to the best of his or her ability. So even if the winter weather makes driving difficult, failing to take proper care to account for the extra following distance, for example, can leave a driver liable if he or she slams into the back of a car in front. Ohio's negligence law says that if a person is fifty-one percent or more at fault for an accident, that person cannot recover damages. At Ryan Attorneys, over 40 years of handling personal injury cases can help make sense of your car wreck injuries caused by a negligent driver in the snow. We understand how to show who is really at fault for your accident and liable for resultant injuries. So if you’ve been hurt by a negligent driver while driving in the Cleveland snow, call Ryan, LLP at (877) 864-9495 to set up a FREE consultation about your case. About the author of this article: Thomas Ryan