Personal Injury Law

Winter burst causes dozens of accidents

By Ryan Bradley, Esq.

In what was probably Winter's last gasp, a massive snow storm dropped up to a foot of snow in some places in the state causing dozens of Missouri car accidents.

Local media reports, predominately from southern Missouri, listed dozens of crashes in the area. At least 25 vehicles had to be towed just along Interstate 44 after they spun out of control into the median or roadside. The Joplin Globe reported that some emergency dispatch centers were receiving triple the amount of calls normally received on a busy night.

The storm was the mix of rain, sleet and snow that is so often a problematic mixture for drivers. Roads become wet due to the rain and freeze as the temperature lowers. The ice can appear so suddenly that drivers don't realize it's there and lose control of their vehicles. Also, after a couple weeks of milder weather, drivers might have been overconfident and convinced the roads wouldn't freeze again.

Overconfidence in bad weather is often a problem for drivers of SUV's and large trucks. Many times a driver will report that since he had four-wheel drive and solid gripping tires, he felt safer and drove at a faster speed. Despite the added traction that is sometimes featured in SUV's, a solid sheet of ice is still just as slick.

While the Winter weather may be over for the year, as we move into Spring we will start to see thunderstorms and driving rain showers. These can prove to be dangerous for drivers as well. While weather can contribute to a Missouri injury accident, it is not a defense if you cause an accident. If the weather is too severe for your driving ability, stay off the road until it passes.

Full post as published by Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog on March 21, 2010 (boomark / email).