North Carolina Safety Tips During Winter Weather

Our lawyers see increasing slip-and-fall injuries and car accidents during North Carolina winters when residents navigate icy sidewalks and highways. The weather cooling off is a good signal to revisit some safety tips for winter to protect yourself from injuries and accidents and also keep those around you safe. Even with prevention, slips and falls and car crashes during snowstorms happen, and when they do, you should understand how to handle the situation.

Read on to find valuable safety tips for driving during winter in North Carolina and ways to protect your rights if you’re involved in a weather-related slip and fall or accident.

Proper upkeep can help improve the safety of common areas, driveways, and sidewalks during winter storms. Not only does this keep visitors safe, but it protects property owners from facing premises liability claims as a consequence of slip-and-fall injuries. Our slip-and-fall lawyers recommend North Carolina business owners and landlords take these precautions during winter:

• Clear snow and ice before they have a chance to build up on sidewalks and parking lots.
• Patch cracks and holes in walkways where water can collect and freeze.
• Inspect gutters to ensure they are directing precipitation away from pedestrians.
• Maintain outdoor lights to help people see the conditions of walkways and parking lots.
• Place warning signs near problematic areas to alert people to icy conditions.

Renters, landlords, property owners, and municipal workers must understand their responsibilities to clear areas that handle heavy traffic and abide by the rules to keep themselves, their patrons, and the public safe. While this sounds logical, determining who is responsible can be a gray area.

Our North Carolina lawyers have seen many people held liable for slip-and-fall accidents even though they didn’t know they were responsible for snow removal. Waiting until the first storm to figure out whose job it is to clear sidewalks and driveways could leave you unprepared and at fault when someone is injured.

Several factors determine snow-clearing duties and liability, including:

• The dwelling or property type (private or public, rented or owned)
• Rental or lease agreements and Homeowners’ Association contracts
• City ordinances
• Severity and duration of the storm
• Property location

There’s snow in the forecast for the Triangle! When there is a winter storm in North Carolina, the best thing to do is hunker down with board games and a warm fire. However, not all of our jobs or personal lives afford us the luxury of taking a day off and enjoying the wintry mix.

Our lawyers offer these 10 tips for those who must navigate the roads during a winter storm in Raleigh:

1. Use Discretion. Anytime you’re considering driving in snow, you must first and foremost use discretion. Your safety is more important than wherever you need to be. Do not get on the roads if conditions are unsafe, and if they become more dangerous while you’re driving, pull over at the nearest safe location.
2. Do Some Defrosting. Before you hit the road, warm up your vehicle to ensure all your windows and mirrors have clear sightlines through any ice or snow. This is also the time to make sure equipment is working properly before you hit the road. Remember to warm up your car in a ventilated space, and not a garage.
3. Take it Slow. When driving in the snow, be sure to accelerate and decelerate slowly. Drive below the speed limit if conditions call for it, and keep at least 8–10 seconds of following distance between you and the car in front of you. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
4. Wear a Seatbelt. Which you always do, right?
5. Use Your Lights. If snow is falling, your headlights should be on. This will help you see the roadway better, and allow other drivers to see you on the road.
6. Fill Up. Keep your gas tank at least half-full to avoid gas line freeze-up and keep you from running out of fuel if you get stuck on a snowy road.
7. No Cruisin’. Do not use cruise control when you’re driving on a slippery surface, such as ice, rain, snow, or sand. This limits your control as a driver and could result in an accident.
8. Keep Going. Avoid stopping as much as possible. Stopping takes longer on icy roads and it can also be hard to get going again.
9. Know your Brakes. Try to practice threshold breaking by keeping the heel of your foot on the floor and using the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure onto the brake pedal. Quick and sudden use of your brakes can cause you to lose control of your vehicle and fishtail.
10. Climb with Caution. If you’re going up a hill, avoid rapid acceleration — this could get your wheels spinning. Additionally, avoid stopping on a hill — it can be nearly impossible to regain traction after stopping on an icy incline.

In North Carolina, liability for winter accidents often falls on the negligent driver. Actions that may not cause crashes during good weather may lead to accidents during winter storms. Driving too fast for the conditions, following too closely, and making unsafe lane changes, are examples of negligent behavior. Failing to clear snow or ice off the vehicle and driving without headlights when visibility is low can also qualify as negligence. Determining who is at fault may require the help of an experienced accident attorney who understands how North Carolina weather affects driving conditions.

If you’ve been injured by a slip and fall on ice or snow or need a lawyer’s advice after a winter car accident, contact Miller Law Group of Raleigh, North Carolina, for assistance. We understand the hardships an unexpected injury or crash can bring and will fight for your recovery.