Seasonal Driving Risks to Be Aware Of

While many roadway dangers are persistent threats on a day-to-day basis, it’s important to realize that different times of year will feature certain hazards in greater abundance. Not only are 20% of all Nevada car accidents weather-related, but many more can be traced back to seasonal trends in road maintenance, driver behavior, and other related circumstances that might not be immediately apparent. Familiarizing yourself with these seasonal driving risks is vital to making sure that you don’t get hurt in an auto accident; failing to prepare appropriately could render you partly liable for a crash under Nevada’s comparative fault system.

Four Seasons of Roadway Dangers

Every season brings with it certain dangers you should be aware of, which we’ll get into more detail about below. Note that many of these hazards aren’t exclusive to certain seasons, but rather, simply more common; rainstorms, for example, can be an issue throughout spring, summer, fall, and at times, winter, yet are ultimately most common in summer.

Winter

• Snow and ice: Frozen precipitation can reduce visibility, create slick roads, hide roadway paint, and otherwise create extremely dangerous situations for those who fail to slow down and prepare for adverse weather conditions.
• Early nightfall: Winter months feature short days and early nightfalls, which translates to dark evening commutes and even further reduced visibility.

Spring

• Strong winds: Beginning with spring and pushing well through the following seasons, strong winds can be extremely dangerous for all types of vehicles, but are especially likely to cause rollover bus accidents, since buses have large, flat sides.
• Potholes: Winter temperatures can warp and break roadways, leaving dangerous potholes throughout the road that often aren’t addressed until summer.
• Pedestrians and bikers: As the weather warms, more non-drivers tend to take to the street, which can lead to all manner of dangerous pedestrian accidents in Nevada.

Summer

• Hot roads: High surface temperatures can heat your car’s tires in turn, leading to dangerously high tire pressures and possible blowouts.
• Rainstorms: Contrary to popular belief, weather-related accidents overwhelmingly involve heavy rain and slick roads, rather than snow and other winter conditions.
• Hail: Summer is hail season for many, which can combine the worst parts of rain and snow while also presenting a unique danger of directly damaging vehicles in heavier storms.
• Increased traffic: With more people taking to the road, summertime leads to dense traffic and often inattentive drivers.
• Road construction: To address roadway damage caused in winter, most construction and road repair is performed during warmer months for the sake of maintenance personnel, which can create hazardous road work zones.

Fall

• Daylight savings time: When daylight savings time strikes, more driving suddenly occurs during darker nighttime hours, which can be offputting for those who fail to prepare.
• Back-to-school season: Schooltime means more buses, active school crosswalks, and an influx of young pedestrians who might errantly cross into the road without looking both ways.
• Fallen leaves: Windswept leaves can obscure potholes and other roadway features or hazards, creating surprisingly low-visibility situations.
• Fog: As winter approaches and temperatures drop anew, fog can frequently cause low-visibility conditions.

Nevada Accident Attorneys Can Help Year-Round

Avoiding weather-related accidents is fundamentally difficult, and the seasons can present more dangers than simple weather. Regardless of when you were hurt in an accident, Aaron law Group’s Nevada car accident attorneys can help you secure compensation. You can schedule a free consultation by calling us at  (702) 550-1111, giving you the opportunity to speak to a legal professional.