The danger on an icy road doesn’t stop after you have been involved in an accident. Other vehicles can lose control of the same spot as yours. Many icy road fatalities are caused by people who abandon their vehicles only to be struck by second-hand vehicles after the accident.
Minor accidents are usually not dangerous and cause little damage to the vehicle or property. These small accidents are more common because people drive slower in snow, ice, and sleet.It doesn’t mean that the accident should be ignored. Winter weather can make it even more dangerous to perform the usual post-accident inspection. Do not panic if you are involved in an accident on an icy roadway. Check around to make sure everyone is safe. If you see no injuries and don’t smell any gas, sparks, or smoke, it’s probably safe to remain in your vehicle.
If you and your car are not in danger, don’t get out of the car to inspect the damage. It is icy outside. You don’t want traffic to clog your path, but it’s also important that you don’t allow anyone to slide into you. After the accident you may feel a bit shaky and slipping on slippery ice could cause you to slip.
After ensuring that everyone is safe and the damage is minimal, keep calm and share insurance information with the other driver. These details will include:
- Name
- Telephone numbers
- Email address
- Information about insurance
Nowadays, most drivers have a smartphone. It is acceptable to take both a photograph of the license plate and the insurance card. It’s better than looking at hurriedly written information and finding that you can’t understand what you wrote.Call 911 immediately if there is any doubt about the accident causing more than minor damage, or that an injured party may be claiming injury. The 911 dispatcher might call emergency services to assess the injury and come out.You both are protected by a police report. You can’t promise anything, apologize, or leave the scene. Get in touch with your insurance company.Your rates will not go up for minor accidents. You can contact Bill’s Auto Body in Forest Lake (MN) to repair your car.
Sometimes, you are the only vehicle involved in an “icy spin-out” into another’s property. What do you do when there is no one around?
- Call 911 again to make sure a police record has been made. The police will notify you of the next steps.
- Make sure you have your flashers on if you are still within sight of other vehicles. You can’t stress enough how important it is to not get out of your vehicle unless you have an emergency such as the smell of gasoline, or in the case of a fire. You don’t want another vehicle hitting you while you assess the damage.
- Leave a note for property owners if you can. A note placed on the windshield of a parked vehicle is a good idea if you are a victim to an accident. Include all relevant information such as your name, phone number and license plate.Even if you are the sole responsible for the accident, don’t admit to fault.
- You can knock on a mailbox, fence, or residential property to leave a note if you have struck it. It is a good idea for neighbors to talk to you. They may be able get you in touch with the property owner to resolve your problem faster.
- If your accident caused minor property damage, collision and comprehensive insurance will cover you. For the purposes of filing your claim you will be held responsible, but no one was hurt.
Icy Driving Safety Tips
It can be scary to lose control of your car when you are on ice, especially if it is black ice. Black ice is often hard to see until it’s too late.
If you have any doubts that there may be black ice on the roads, these safety tips will help.
- Slow down.
- Cruise control is not recommended.
- Good tread should be on your tires for winter conditions. Less tread, less traction.
- If your vehicle has a front-wheel drive, you should steer in the direction indicated by the skid. Don’t brake.
- Rear-wheel drive vehicles should be able to steer in the direction you desire and then accelerate slowly through the area.
- Slowly steer away from the black ice and skid. If you have antilock brakes, continue to pedal normally. If your antilock brakes are not installed, you can still use your brakes but push the brakes gently and steer slowly away from the ice.
- The 2-second rule isn’t applicable to icy driving. Slow down! In icy conditions, it takes nine to ten times the distance to stop your vehicle.
- Good tires will ensure your car is roadworthy.
- It is a good idea to keep a winter emergency kit on hand.
