Two individuals in Spokane recently died in motor vehicle accidents due to icy road conditions. In one of the accidents, which occurred on State Route 26 near Washtucna, a woman died when she lost control of her vehicle while traveling on icy roads. Her vehicle subsequently drifted into the oncoming lane and struck a semi-truck head-on. The second accident occurred about five miles north of Reardan when a driver lost control of his vehicle and collided with a semi-truck. A Washington State Patrol Trooper has reported that these two fatal car accidents are just some of the dozens of accidents that have occurred recently in the Spokane area.

Icy roads have the potential to cause serious accidents when drivers lose control of their vehicles. While it almost always a better idea to remain home and not drive at all when the roads are icy, it is not always possible to do so. The following will review some of the important safety tips that drivers can follow when traveling on icy and snowy Spokane roads.

• Do Not Oversteer: If a slippery section of road causes you to lose control of your vehicle, you might have the urge to oversteer to regain control of the vehicle. By oversteering, you risk spinning out and further losing control.
• Keep Your Visibility Sufficient: It is important to maintain functionality of your windshield wiper blades as well as to keep the inside of your front window clean. If you do not have complete visibility, you are much more likely to be in an accident.
• Look Out for Black Ice: Black ice refers to ice that is not readily visible. When your vehicle slips on a patch of black ice, you can suddenly be involved in a deadly accident. To avoid these accidents, it is important to exercise a high degree of caution and to drive slowly during winter weather conditions.
• Make Sure You Have Proper Tires: It is critical if you plan on driving this winter to make sure that your tires have at least 6/32-inch deep tread. Tires that are billed as “ultra high performance” frequently lack adequate grip in the snow. Sometimes, tires that are labeled as “all season” are not adequate for driving in icy conditions. Instead, it is better to drive on snow tires (or, winter tires) which are frequently emblazoned with a symbol of a snowflake.

Contact a Skilled Spokane Accident Lawyer

It is unfortunate, but each winter in the Spokane area, a large number of very serious accidents occur. If you or a loved one is impacted by an accident this winter, you should not hesitate to obtain the assistance of a skilled accident attorney. Contact West Law Office today to speak with an experienced accident lawyer who is prepared to fight for the results that you deserve.