Winter Car Accidents In Buffalo, New York

Jed Dietrich, Esq. and His Elite Team of Lawyers and Paralegals at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Fight to Obtain the Best Result for People Injured in Winter Weather Car Accidents in Buffalo, New York.

In Buffalo, New York, winter weather driving is considered a way of life. The first snowfalls of the year often cause numerous car accidents throughout the area. On average, Western New York receives 93.4 inches of snowfall every year. Most locals appreciate the additional precautions that should be taken when the roads are covered in ice and snow. Nevertheless, during the winter months, the rate of car crashes increases at an alarming rate. Obviously, the harsh winter weather necessitates extra care, even for the most veteran winter drivers. Still, those that take all necessary safety precautions do not necessarily avoid winter car accidents because others may overlook hazardous driving conditions or overestimate their driving abilities. Unfortunately, most of these accidents would have been completely avoidable if drivers just applied reasonable winter driving practices.

If you, or a loved one, were injured in a winter weather car accident, you may be uncertain about your course of action. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of winter car accident injury attorneys in Buffalo, New York are on your side. We are determined, disciplined and dedicated to obtaining the best possible results for those suffering personal injuries in Buffalo, New York; Rochester, New York; Niagara Falls, New York and throughout New York State. Victims of winter car accidents may be eligible for monetary compensation for their hospital bills, lost wages, diminished earning capacity and pain and suffering. Time and time again, former clients of the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. have said that Jed Dietrich, Esq. is the best personal injury lawyer in Buffalo, New York. View our Google 5 Star rating and our clients’ testimonials by clicking here.

Since 1999, Jed Dietrich, Esq. has exclusively dedicated his career fighting for those that have been seriously injured or killed in accidents throughout the United States. Jed Dietrich, Esq. founded the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. in 2005 with a mission to provide the highest level of personal injury service to the people of Buffalo, New York and beyond. Our very experienced, aggressive, tenacious and hardworking team of Buffalo, New York winter weather accident lawyers will fight to obtain the best result for your injuries. Insurance companies have paid Jed Dietrich, Esq. in excess of $175 million to resolve injury claims. Furthermore, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. earned recognition by Expertise LLC as Best Car Accident Lawyers in Buffalo 2023.

According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 24% of weather-related car accidents take place on snowy, slushy or icy pavement, while 15% of these accidents occur during sleet or snowfall. Annually, more than 1,300 people suffer fatalities and over 116,800 are injured in car accidents on snowy, slushy or icy roads. Additionally, every year, roughly 900 people are killed and around 76,000 people suffer injuries in car crashes during sleet or snowfall.

Considering more driving is done in the dark because winter days are shorter, when combined with heavy snowfall visibility levels can be significantly reduced. Not to mention, black ice is extremely difficult to notice. Icy and snowy roads tend to reduce pavement friction and maneuverability. This makes roads more slippery and dangerous, especially when they have not been salted. Roads can be treacherous without being covered in thin layers of ice. Even light rainfalls or drizzles that freeze can make driving very problematic. Inexperienced winter drivers may not adjust for the winter conditions. For example, drivers neglecting to maintain a safety zone with other vehicles, or failing to realize that they cannot safely drive at normal speeds on icy roads. Inexperienced drivers may be unable to handle their cars as they skid or slide and try braking, which can lead to spinning out of control or fishtailing.

During the winter months, potholes begin to form as a result of water permeating the road’s surface through small holes and cracks. Even large potholes are more difficult to notice after a heavy snowfall or when water pools in them. When cars unexpectedly hit large potholes, it can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles and swerve into oncoming traffic. In other cases, some drivers may stop to evaluate the damage after hitting a pothole. During heavy snowfall and other low visibility conditions, other drivers might crash into the stopped driver.

Drinking and driving tends to increase during the winter holidays. During the holiday season, even people that do not normally drink and have a lower alcohol tolerance are more inclined to drink and drive. A greater tendency to drink combined with treacherous winter road conditions creates a ticking time bomb. Research conducted by the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism shows that drunk drivers cause around 40% of traffic fatalities during Christmas and New Year's. Each year, approximately 300 Americans lose their lives around these holidays. Every day, on average 27 people die in December in drunk driving crashes.

As indicated above, there are many different ways to be injured in a car crash during the harsh winter months in Buffalo, New York. Due to spinouts, loss of control and not being able to stop, injuries resulting from winter time car accidents can be devastating and even fatal. The most frequently occurring winter crash injuries include:

1. Deep cuts or lacerations;
2. Fractured and broken bones;
3. Severed limbs;
4. Herniated discs;
5. Whiplash;
6. Neck and back injuries;
7. Total paralysis;
8. Punctured lungs;
9. Internal bleeding or organ damage;
10. Traumatic brain injuries;
11. Painful disfigurements; and
12. Emotional distress.

If you, or a loved one, were injured by an accident caused by the harsh winter weather, contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today at 716-839-3939. Our team of highly experienced and top rated Buffalo, New York snow and ice accident lawyers fight for the compensation that you deserve for the injuries you suffered. This may include monetary compensation for your medical bills, lost time from work and pain and suffering.

One of the most common causes of winter car accidents is when drivers fail to adjust their driving to account for the loss of traction and visibility. This could be because the driver was negligent, inexperienced or careless. Under New York law, the winter weather does not change who is at fault for an accident and is not considered a legal justification. Every driver has a duty to exercise reasonable care in the operation of their vehicle, which includes taking basic precautions, driving safely and considering adverse weather conditions. Every driver assumes a legal responsibility to exercise caution and due care, regardless of the weather conditions.

Winter accidents are typically an avoidable hazard. A driver’s due care entails him or her to drive more cautiously under adverse winter weather conditions. If you were a victim of a winter car accident, do not be afraid of consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney to weigh your legal options. Other drivers should be held liable for the accidents they cause.

Through a personal injury lawsuit, victims can pursue recovery for damages, which may include:

1. Property damage;
2. Lost income;
3. Reduced earning capacity;
4. Medical bills (past, present and future);
5. Permanent disability;
6. Pain and suffering;
7. Total disfigurement; and
8. Post-traumatic stress disorder.

If you lost a family member in a winter weather car accident, although nothing can bring your loved one back, you may have the right to file a wrongful death claim. Wrongful death claims help support surviving family members with financial compensation that can assist them in obtaining a sense of closure after the loss of a loved one.

Practicing law the Dietrich way, we are: determined, disciplined and dedicated to your cause. Insurance companies have paid Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his highly experienced, top rated and elite team of winter car accident injury attorneys in Buffalo, New York $1,000,000.00, or more, 38 times to compensate his clients for their serious personal injuries. We understand how to properly and aggressively pursue winter weather accident injury claims and will zealously battle to attempt to obtain the best result for your Buffalo, New York personal injury claim. Contact us today at 716-839-3939.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!