As one of the northernmost states on the East Coast, New Hampshire sees its fair share of intense winter weather. Storms often create hazardous conditions that limit visibility for drivers and can create icy roads that make skidding more likely.
Despite these dangers, New Hampshire drivers do not let weather conditions prevent them from traveling, even when rain and freezing temperatures leave the roads coated in ice and snow. Committing to safety practices when driving, including slowing down and leaving more distance between your vehicle and other cars, could make a difference if you want to avoid a crash. Unfortunately, experience and defensive driving won’t always prevent a serious auto accident, often due to the negligence of other drivers.
The danger of other drivers
New Hampshire drivers have years of practice managing their vehicles safely in freezing weather and on slick, even ice-coated asphalt. The unfortunate truth is that no amount of personal driving experience can completely counter the increased risk generated by severe winter weather and drivers who are not as cautious as you. Even with the best precautions in place, not everyone drives with the same level of awareness and every year winter weather causes dozens of crashes around the state.
From changing your wiper blades to reinflating your tires, there are many forms of winter vehicle maintenance you can perform if you want to minimize your risk of experiencing a weather-related collision. However, the only real protection is an insurance plan that will cover injuries that may be sustained in a crash, no matter how serious they are. This is especially so if someone is driving negligently and is the cause of the collision.
Do you have enough insurance coverage?
If you are injured in an accident, whether it be your fault or that of another driver, having the right amount of insurance is essential to ensuring a less stressful recovery and protecting your personal assets. In a scenario where you have a minimal coverage plan and are in a car accident with an uninsured driver, your insurance will often not provide you enough compensation for expensive medical bills and lost time at work and the financial support you deserve. By adding sufficient liability coverage in New Hampshire, insurance companies are obligated to provide an equal amount of uninsured motorist protection to your policy. Therefore, you can easily reduce your risk of personal losses if you are injured by a driver with insufficient insurance. Increasing your coverage is not as costly as you might expect.
Your risk may be higher now than last year
After years of decreasing crash rates, the number of collisions and fatalities shot through the roof in past years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that New Hampshire saw 92 traffic fatalities in the first nine months of 2021 and an estimated 109 deaths in the first nine months of 2022. That represents an 18.5% increase!
While some other states saw significant reductions in crash rates when comparing 2022 data with 2021 figures, New Hampshire has bucked the trend, with fatalities continuing to rise. The icy and snowy conditions of winter roads will contribute to those figures.
Overall, your likelihood of getting into an accident in New Hampshire has been on the rise in recent years, and the winter will almost certainly see increased safety concerns for travelers. Remaining aware of collision statistics could help you make smarter choices and potentially avoid a car crash.
If you are involved in an accident caused by another driver’s negligence, SOLOMON LAW FIRM has over 41 years of experience in helping people receive the COMPENSATION THEY DESERVE.