Crashes Triple in South Carolina Due to Snow and Ice

For South Carolina, this winter brought a record amount of snow, ice and car crashes. According to a WSOCTV article, "In South Carolina, the Highway Patrol reported 2,346 crashes from Friday night to Saturday morning. That number is nearly triple the 798 crashes reported during a February weekend in 2009." Because of the unusually high number of accidents, troopers struggled to keep up with the demand for help from stranded drivers.

How these accidents happened

Driving on snowy and icy roads makes it hard to control your car, even while driving slowly and cautiously. WSOCTV says, "Troopers saw cars sliding through intersections, hitting signs, skidding out of their lanes into other cars and slamming into parked cars."

Winter driving tips

During a bad storm, the safest thing you can do is stay off the roads. If you must drive, follow these important tips from the Weather Channel. Knowing how to safely drive in snow and ice could save your life.

1. Go slowly, and be gentle on the brakes. If you feel your car skidding as you stop, take your foot off the brake and try again.
2. Give yourself plenty of space. A good rule is that you should give yourself three times as much distance as you normally would between your car and the car in front of you.
3. Turn your headlights on, even during the day.
4. Be mindful of the vehicles around you. Stay out of other people's blind spots, and let faster cars pass you. Give salt trucks, plows and service vehicles room to do their jobs.
5. Know your car well enough to know what to do in an emergency situation. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Do you have anti-lock brakes? If you do, then keep your foot solidly on the brake pedal to stop on an icy road. That pulsing feeling means your brakes are working. If you don't have anti-lock brakes, pump the brakes to keep them from locking up.

Is your car rear-wheel or front-wheel drive? If you have rear-wheel drive, turn your steering wheel in the direction of the skid to regain control. If you have front-wheel drive, stop accelerating and wait for your car to slow. Then accelerate and turn the steering wheel in the direction you want to go.

Speak to an Attorney

If you have been injured in a car accident due to seasonal road conditions, it is important to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney in your area to learn more about your legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation for the injuries you sustained due to the accident. A lawyer can answer any questions you may have about your options, evaluate the circumstances of your accident and recommend the best course of action.