With the inclement and downright dangerous weather much of Texas has been receiving this winter, our entire team at The Daspit Law Firm hopes everyone stays safe as they battle the elements. Depending on where you live in the state, it’s entirely possible to encounter rain, sleet, snow, flooding, and even serious winds, storms, or tornadoes – and we want you to be prepared if and when that happens.

First and foremost, we encourage everyone to stay up-to-date with their local weather and news. This will help you know what to expect if you plan on traveling or leaving the house – and if there are any emergency warnings in place. Should warnings be issued, always follow them.

Aside from keeping your eyes out for weather warnings or advisories, you can also take precautions if you need to get on the roadways during poor weather:

• Be prepared – Know where you’re going and how long it may take, and always know the forecasted weather or where dangerous weather conditions may be taking place. It’s also a smart idea to keep an emergency kit in your vehicle should you need to stop for any reason.
• Slow down – When there’s bad weather of any sort – especially in rain or snow – you should always reduce your speed. Excessive speed increases the risk of accidents substantially.
• Give extra space – In bad weather or when visibility is poor, you should increase your following distance. Allowing more room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you will ensure you have enough time to react and move out of harm’s way.
• Use caution – When in doubt in any situation, always err on the side of caution. This can include driving around or finding alternate routes when approached raised water, as it could be deeper than you think. Also watch for black eyes, and exercising care whenever you see a glare off the road at night, especially on bridges, in the shadows of buildings, and at intersections.
• Turn into a skid – If you skid or hydroplane during bad weather, remain calm, remove your foot from the brake or gas, and turn the wheel gently into the direction the car is skidding.

As statistics make plainly clear, poor weather is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents, as well as a leading cause of injury and death. Taking precautions can go a long way in keeping you and your loved ones safe, but as our lawyers have seen before, proper precautions don’t always eliminate risks created by other negligent drivers. When this is the case, our Dallas car accident lawyers are available to help victims and families as they fight for a full recovery of their damages.

If you have questions about car wrecks and your legal rights, contact The Daspit Law Firm for a free consultation. We can help you learn more about filing a personal injury claim and how much your claim may be worth.