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Denver Car Accidents Involving in Snow and Ice

Posted on October 4, 2021 in

Accidents involving snow and ice are inevitable when it comes to wintertime in Denver. We have plenty of out-of-state drivers who simply do not understand how to operate their vehicles during the winter months. However, even the most experienced wintertime drivers in Colorado can still make mistakes that result in a collision. Here, we want to discuss the most common causes of snow and ice accidents in Denver.

Denver Car Accidents Involving in Snow and Ice

What Does the Data Indicate?

According to data available from the Colorado Department of Transportation, we can see that there were more than 121,000 total vehicle accidents across the state during the latest reporting year. The DOT breaks down how many accidents occur in certain types of conditions, including the following:

  • Snow – 5,326 total crashes
  • Ice – 6,853 total crashes
  • Slush – 1,239 total crashes

It is inevitable that drivers will have to operate during less than favorable conditions, including winter weather such as snow and ice. Unfortunately, these crashes often result in severe injuries for those involved. It is not uncommon for snow and ice vehicle crash accident victims to sustain the following:

  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Concussions
  • Broken or dislocated bones
  • Spinal cord trauma with possible paralysis
  • Whiplash
  • Other severe neck or back injury
  • Internal organ damage
  • Lacerations or puncture wounds

Determining fault after a winter weather crash can be challenging. For example, if a car slides through an intersection and into another vehicle, you may think that the road is the reason the crash occurred and not the other driver. However, it remains a driver’s responsibility to keep their vehicle under control no matter what the road conditions. Even though an icy road can contribute to an accident, and no driver is expected to control the weather, all drivers should take extra precautions in order to avoid causing accidents.

Even if law enforcement officials do not cite a driver after a winter weather crash, you can be sure that the insurance carriers are going to determine fault one way or the other.

Can You Recover Compensation?

If you or somebody you care about has been injured or sustained property damage in a car accident caused by snow or icy conditions, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses. Yes, we know that the accident may have happened when there were bad conditions outside, but that does not mean there were no other drivers responsible for the incident. All drivers are expected to operate their vehicles safely in inclement weather, and a failure to do so could constitute negligence.

As we mentioned above, the insurance carriers are going to handle these crashes just like every other accident that occurs on the roadways, no matter what type of weather.

A skilled Denver car accident lawyer should get involved early in your case and conduct a complete investigation into the incident. If it is determined that the careless or negligent actions of another driver caused the crash, an attorney will work diligently to recover full compensation for your losses. This includes coverage of your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering losses, and more. The total amount of compensation available for these claims will vary depending on the facts and circumstances surrounding each particular snow or ice crash in Denver.