Why Frigid Temperatures Can Impact Your Chances Of Getting Into A New Haven Auto Accident

On this blog we talk a lot about the impact of snow and ice on roads during the winter months and how they may present a danger to you when your out driving around in these conditions.  Did you know that frigid temperatures can also make a major impact on your chances of getting into a New Haven auto accident?  It’s true.  Even on a bright and sunny day, when temperatures have fallen well below freezing you are not out of the woods on dangerous driving conditions.

Certainly the threat of icy road conditions increases as temperatures drop, but there is more to the dangerous conditions then just what exists on the road.  When temperatures drop your car can be a hazard in and of itself for a number of reasons.

1. Low tire pressure.  When temperatures take a dramatic turn downward the tire pressure in your tires can significantly reduce.  You may lose between 2-5 PSI depending on how drastic the temperature drop is and therefore you could be driving around on some very dangerous tires, even if the treads are great and you’ve transitioned to winter tires.  Under-inflated tires can place you in grave danger if you are not careful and they make slipping on ice or snow even more dangerous.
2. Low visibility due to the difference in temperature between your vehicle and the outside temperature.  It can be tempting to run the heat at a high volume when driving in your vehicle in frigid conditions, but when there is a drastic difference between the temperatures outside of the car and the temperatures inside the car it can present foggy or icy windshields which may turn out to affect your visibility while driving down the road.
3. Stalling or difficulty starting hazard.  Older cars specifically present a real problem when it gets colder out as they have a tendency to not start as easily and often times they breakdown leaving motorists stranded.  A stranded motorist on the side of the road is not only a hazard in the frigid temperatures due to the chance of frostbite or hypothermia, but also due to the chance of an accident occurring with on-coming traffic.  It is always more dangerous to be pulled over to the side of a busy road, but add in difficult conditions and you could be in for a dangerous afternoon on the side of the road.
4. Frozen utilities in your vehicle.  When temperatures get severely low there are fluids and mechanicals that can seize up and cause you trouble.  Your windshield wipers can seize up causing issues and fluids in your vehicle, although designed for large swings in temperatures can become frozen in extreme circumstances and cause dangerous conditions for you and your vehicle.

While Connecticut temperatures do not generally dip too low to cause major issues, they can get below freezing and put you at a greater risk of getting into a New Haven auto accident.  If this is the case, your best bet is to avoid driving on frigid days or give your car ample time to warm up before heading out on to the roads.

If you’ve been injured in an accident you may want to speak with an attorney who has experience in dealing with the frigid Northeast winters.  Contact our office and one of our attorneys will speak with you about protecting your long-term interests.