Whilst I don’t want to put a downer on everyone’s September by mentioning the looming winter months as we approach colder climates and shorter days (which I can’t believe how quick the nights are drawing in – I say this every year…), but summer is really over, and we should probably begin preparing for potentially serious adverse conditions given the last two winters of snow and ice.
I’m sure you all remember last year don’t you? The day Britain came to a standstill when we were pummelled with an insane amount of snow. I certainly remember my six hour journey (one that normally takes me 20 minutes) where I had a real concern that I would be involved in an accident or stuck out all night on the roads. With this kind of weather that we may now have to learn to expect in Britain, there is a lot we have to do to prepare ourselves for the worst.
So – what can you do to make sure you don’t end up in a car accident as wet weather and colder conditions commence their grim approach?
The first thing you can do is to take extra care out on the roads. You may be a perfectly safe driver, but the person closing up on your car boot whilst its tipping down with rain may not be. Keep your wits about you and watch out for the potential mistakes that other drivers can make. Of course, if you do end up being injured through the fault of another driver, give us a call as you will likely have a successful claim for compensation.
Preparing your vehicle is of paramount importance. If you are able to put some cold weather tyres on, it’s certainly a good idea. If not, ensure your tires are always inflated to the correct pressure (which should be in your manual or even written on the interior of your vehicle), and make sure you check your lights and windscreen wipers regularly (particularly lights, as you can’t see whether your rear ones have blown out unless you check specifically).
As well as the obvious engine area checks (oil, brake fluid, etc), it’s worth your while to put some antifreeze in your windscreen wash reservoir to stop the liquid freezing on the glass. As well as checking your vehicle is ready, it’s always best to make sure you are ready personally. Make sure to keep some spare warm clothes in your car, perhaps even a blanket, welly boots, some bottled (and sealed to prevent spoilage) water, and perhaps even some long lasting snack products or food. A shovel is also a fantastic idea. All these are probably more of a safe necessity than a precaution given what last year was like!
All this talk of cold weather and horrendous roads is admittedly a littler depressive, as I suppose we are only halfway through September. But the weather and roads will turn traitorous quickly enough; they always do! So get prepared now or face getting caught out!
If you end up being injured in a car accident claim thanks to the weather, you still have a claim so long as it wasn’t you that fell foul of the conditions. If a car fails to stop due to wet or icy roads and crashes in to you, you have a very good chance of winning your claim from their insurance.
What you do need to make sure of is to instruct your own independent personal injury lawyer. If you haven’t seen the recent news about getting lawyers referred to you through insurers or claims companies, read up on it – type “Jack Straw” and “referral fee ban” in to Google or Yahoo etc and you will see what I mean. Avoid letting anyone else decide the fate of your claim, or suffer the potential consequences of poor service levels and reduced payouts.
