The recent winter weather has brought freezing rain and ice to much of Mississippi, including the Jackson area. Over the weekend of February 20, the Jackson area experienced unexpected icing, seriously impacting both bridges and roads. The freezing rains begin to fall on Friday right before drivers set out on their morning commute. Drivers were forced to battle heavy congestion and icy bridges in order to get to work.
Multiple accidents were reported on that Friday and in the following days. At least three weather related fatalities occurred: one in the Greenwood area and two in the New Albany area. An additional 87 accidents were reported on Friday alone. One of the major problems facing the area was that meteorologists did not predict the icy conditions, and hence road crews were not prepared to de-ice the bridges.
During icy road conditions, any road can become a dangerous place. However, the majority of ice related accidents happen on:
- Bridges, elevated roadways, and overpasses: Elevated roads collect snow and ice before other roadways, catching drivers by surprise.
- High speed roads: It is more common to slide or lose control while traveling at higher speeds. As such, highways, interests, and turnpikes are the site of many ice related accidents.
- Curves: Steering can cause the rear of a vehicle to slide outward while traveling on a curve. Cars tend to initially fishtail than slide toward the inside of the curve, instead of sliding towards the outside as most drivers would anticipate.
- Steep hills: Major hills pose a serious problem in icy conditions, when the friction forces between the tires and the road may not be strong enough to overcome gravity and slow or stop a car on an icy hill.
- Tunnels: Tunnels will often contain groundwater seepage, which can coat the roadways in ice during freezes.
- Deceleration zones: Braking is a common trigger of slides on icy roads. Any parts of the roadway that requires drivers to brake could become a hot spot for accidents, such as traffic lights, stop signs, and sharp curves.
- Acceleration zones: Accelerating can cause the wheels to spin on icy roads, which may lead to loss of control of the vehicle. As such, danger zones can include highway on ramps and uphill grades.
- Low traffic roads: Roads that are less traveled may be the site of accumulated ice or snow. These roads are often less quick to be cleared by emergency personnel as well.
It is important to look for warning signs during the winter months as to when ice may appear. Warning signs will include the presence of temperatures near or below freezing, falling precipitation, ice sticking to your car, or ice sticking to elevated objects. When these conditions exist, you should presume that the roadways will be icy and require driving with additional care or avoiding the roadways altogether.
Barrett Law PLLC: Zealous Representation for the Victims of Car Accidents in Mississippi
Car accidents due to ice and sleet can result in serious injuries and death to those involved. If you or a loved one is injured in an automobile accident related to poor weather conditions, the Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC are here to help. Poor weather conditions require all drivers operate their vehicles in a safe manner, including lower their speed and exercising additional caution. Those who fail to act in a reasonable manner can be held responsible for the injuries and damages they inflict. Call the experienced automobile accident attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC today at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free consultation.