Winter Storm Nemo Will Likely Lead to Enormous Number of New York Car Accidents

car-accidents-nyAs people begin to dig out from yet another enormous winter storm in New York and across the Northeast, many people will attempt to get back into their regular routines as quickly as possible. Given the devastation that was wrought by Sandy, Nemo may not seem like such a terrible storm in comparison. However, the dangers presented by severe winter weather are real and they need to be understood and acknowledged by anyone who plans to hit the roads during the next few days. Understanding these risks could lead to heightened awareness and more defensive driving.

If people drive more defensively, it could lead to fewer New York car accidents than would have occurred otherwise. In hopes of helping anyone understand the scope of these dangers, below you will find a brief overview of the statistics regarding car accidents that occur across the United States in different types of inclement weather. Anyone who has been harmed as a result of negligent driving needs to obtain the help of experienced New York accident lawyers as soon as possible.

Weather-Related Car Accidents in the United States

The United States Department of Transportation serves many functions in society, and one of their tasks is to track and organize the data that relates to car accidents that occur across the country. These accident statistics are separated out into different cause factors, and one of those factors is inclement weather that may have contributed to a crash.

According to the USDOT, more than 1.5 million car accidents occur in the United States every year at least partially because of bad weather. Specifically, heavy rain is believed to be involved with more than 700,000 crashes. Snow and sleet are recorded as factors in more than 225,000 accidents, and icy roads account for nearly 200,000 of these collisions. The amount of economic loss that has been tied to these crashes is in the billions and growing over time.

Weather-Related Car Accidents and Negligence

Many people mistakenly think that if someone causes a car accident during bad weather conditions that such a person is not as responsible for the harm done as if the crash had occurred when the weather was clear. This is not the case, as the standard for negligence basically takes these conditions into account by measuring a person’s conduct against what a reasonable person would have done in a similar situation.

Therefore, if someone was driving too fast for the conditions and loses control of his or her vehicle such that a crash ensues, that person could be found liable for damages if someone files a lawsuit in response. If you or someone you love has been harmed by a negligent driver, you need to seek the help of New York accident lawyers who have been fighting for the rights of those injured for more than 40 years. Contact The Fitzgerald Law Firm today to schedule a free initial consultation.