Snowy and Icy Roads Accidents

Winter in Colorado is a beautiful sight to behold, but when the snow starts falling and roads begin to freeze, the number of car accidents in which snow and ice are a factor skyrocket. Through this article, the Longmont snow and ice car accident lawyers at Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC hope to help you understand the nature of winter driving. We will briefly discuss Colorado’s laws regarding safe driving on snow and ice, and how you can navigate Colorado’s roads and highways, so you and your family arrive safely. Our team of experienced Boulder car accident attorneys have successfully helped hundreds of people hurt in winter accidents recover just compensation for their injuries and losses. If you have questions about an accident in which winter road conditions were a factor, we invite you to call us today at 303-543-1000 to arrange a free consultation with our Longmont snow and ice car accident attorneys.

Colorado winter weather is unique because there are rarely prolonged periods of cold. Rather, we are all familiar with the pattern of it snowing one day followed by a relatively warm and sunny day the next. Only occasionally does a cold spell last for more than a few days. This means that our Longmont snow and ice car accident lawyers see a constant “freeze/thaw” cycle during the winter months, resulting in a constant threat of icy roads caused by melting snow even if it has not snowed for several days. This means that a responsible driver on snow and ice must be aware of how he or she drives, always accounting for the unexpected. Despite the seemingly obvious awareness that those who are familiar with Colorado’s winter roads should have, from October through April, our Longmont snow and ice car accident attorneys see an increase in people who have been hurt in serious car accidents where winter weather has played a role.

So, what is considered safe driving on wintery roads? A good Boulder car accident attorney will tell you that Colorado law requires drivers in any weather conditions – including ice and snow – use reasonable care under the circumstances. You are not alone if you are wondering what does “reasonable care” mean when the roads are bad?

To help answer this question, our Longmont snow and ice car accident lawyers have provided you with several illustrations (many of which have been approved by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)) to show what a reasonable person would do to keep safe when roads are dangerously icy or snowy:

• Driving at the speed limit or below as needed;
• Keeping enough extra distance between you and the car in front;
• Making sure you have plenty of tread on your tires;
• Keeping your windshield wiper fluids operational;
• Keeping your windshield clear of snow and ice;
• Maintaining a safe space between you and a snowplow; and
• Many others.

In a nutshell, safe driving in bad weather really comes down to maintaining a safe speed and a safe distance from the cars in front of you. If you want to do some further reading on the topic, we suggest that you take a look at CDOT’s website for winter driving tips, which can be found here.

At Cook, Bradford & Levy, LLC, our Longmont snow and ice car accident attorneys have gained a thorough collection of safe winter driving ideas that are designed to minimize the risk of a car accident on dangerous roads. One of the best sites we found was AAA, which lists out several safe driving techniques here and apply to short commutes on side streets all the way to winter road trips on highways like US 36 from Boulder to Denver, I-25 along the Front Range, and the I-70 corridor heading to and from Colorado’s ski resorts.

Finally, although it is not always mentioned, it is important to think about what you will do if you are in an accident or broken down in a snowstorm. A knowledgeable Longmont snow and ice car accident lawyer will suggest that you put together an emergency kit to keep in your trunk at all times. In this emergency kit, we recommend that you have a warm blanket, nutritious snacks, bottled water, emergency flares, a set of waterproof matches, a plastic tarp, and a set of jumper cables, and a first-aid kit.

There are obviously many scenarios that we were unable to address in the above article, and our Boulder car accident attorneys know that each case is unique. To this end, if you or a loved one has been seriously hurt or killed in a crash in which snow or icy conditions may have played a role, we invite you to call us today at 303-543-1000 for a free consultation. Our Boulder and Longmont snow and ice car accident attorneys have decades of experience representing people who have been hurt in winter weather accidents, and we want to hear about your potential case.