Monday, March 31, 2008

Weather and Other External Factors in Road Accidents


The article, “Los Angeles Rains Cause Increase in Collisions”, posted on January 29, 2008, highlights the importance of observing safety precaution when driving under certain weather conditions.

The article mentioned the long period of heavy rains that hit the San Fernando Valley area and caused an upsurge in the number of car accidents in the area.

The article also enumerated the standard procedures for victims of car accidents, which includes moving the car off the road to safety and calling the police or the highway patrol for help.

Further, the article also listed the following vital information to obtain:

  • License plate numbers

  • driver’ s license numbers

  • make and model of each car

  • insurance identification, including name of insurance company, broker or agent, and policy number

  • names, addresses and phone numbers of witnesses

  • names and badge numbers of police officers or other emergency personnel.

Weather conditions can definitely affect one’s driving. However, there are also other external factors that could affect the driver’s judgment while on the road. This includes the following:

  • road conditions – slippery roads, potholes and road construction

  • improper road signs or lack of it – improperly placed road signs can cause accidents and slow down traffic flow

  • road hazards – this includes road obstruction such waste materials or improperly parked vehicles

Considering all these external factors, driving speed may provide an important key in road safety. Speed not only affects the severity of a crash, but it is also related to the risk of being involved in a crash.

According to scientific studies, a relationship exists between speed and crash rate. The studies also found evidence that crash rate increases faster with an increase in speed on minor roads than on major roads.

It is therefore good to say that when driving under extreme weather conditions, one must be careful and do everything with care to prevent accidents.

At the very least, if you find yourself involve in an accident, consult immediately with Los Angeles accident lawyers. They have the skills and experience in handling cases of similar kind. And if you happen to be injured in the accident, a lawyer can improve your chances of getting a maximum recovery for your claims.