Winter Driving Tips Every Colorado Driver Should Know

Anyone who’s weathered a Colorado winter knows something about our somewhat unpredictable climate, from abrupt heat waves to jarring temperature drops, sudden gales and blizzards, ice storms followed by flashmelts — and sometimes all of the above in one day. Like all winter sports, driving in the Centennial State’s colder months takes preparation, savvy, and patience. Here are some useful driving tips for getting safely through the storms ahead.

1. Know your vehicle — and its limitations.

With the advent of antilock brakes and traction control, many of the old rules about winter driving, such as pumping your brakes in a skid, no longer apply. But drivers still need to know what kind of technology they’re equipped with, and what it can and can’t do. In the depths of winter, many mountain roads shouldn’t be attempted without all-wheel drive, high clearance, and/or tire chains; and, contrary to some drivers’ beliefs, even all-wheel drive can be useless if you happen to be on a friction-free stretch of ice.

2. Bring the right tools.

At the very least, you should have an ice scraper and snow brush, proper winter clothing, and cell phone (no texting, please) along for the ride. For long-range trips, blankets, food and water, an emergency kit, any needed medications, and a snow shovel should be on board, too, and keep plenty of gas in the tank to help keep the fuel line from freezing.

3. Brush up on visibility.

Slippery roads aren’t the only problem. A major hazard in many winter driving situations is limited visibility, thanks to blowing snow and the icing of windshields and wiper blades (which should be replaced every year). Incredibly, drivers often compound the problem by not bothering to clear their windows (particularly their back windows) before hitting the road, figuring the defroster will eventually take care of it. Taking a few extra minutes to scrape and defrost before setting out greatly increases your prospects of being able to see what’s going on around you and avoid a crash.

4. Don’t be a statistic.

Cars that offer keyless ignitions and remote starting features have compounded a common problem — people leaving cars to “warm up” in closed garages, which can lead to potentially fatal levels of carbon monoxide overpowering drivers or other family members. Never leave your car idling in a closed garage — or, for that matter, idling unattended in your driveway, which could be in violation of local “puffer” laws and encourage car thieves.

5. For serious winter driving, get serious winter tires.

All-season tires are intended to competently handle a variety of middling road conditions. But “all-season” doesn’t mean “all-winter.” If you expect to be routinely facing extreme winter conditions, such as heavily snow-packed roads, you should talk to your tire store about tires that are specifically designed to offer superior traction in snow and ice. That means having to switch tires in the summer in order to extend the life of your winter grippers, but if you are facing months of serious snowfall and frosty nights, it could be worth it.

6. Easy does it.

In icy winter conditions, accelerating, braking, and maneuvering through traffic should all be done at a gentler pace, with frugal use of the gas pedal and the brake. Don’t gun it from a stoplight, unless you like spinning your wheels futilely. AAA recommends that “the normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds,” to give you more time and distance to brake if needed. Going slower takes longer, but it greatly increases your chance of actually getting somewhere.

7. Use your momentum.

It’s best to avoid flooring it to get up a hill or jamming on the brake going downhill; if you let the car’s own weight help to regulate your speed going up and slow you coming down, there’s less chance of a skid. It’s also important to turn off the cruise control in wet or snowy conditions, since it can cause surges of acceleration at inconvenient times and lead to hydroplaning or worse.

8. Avoid unnecessary trips.

If the weather alerts are screaming about an impending blizzard, ask yourself one question: Is this trip really necessary? Sometimes the safest option in extreme weather conditions is to put another log on the fire and wait for the plows to make things a bit more bearable.

What Are Your Legal Rights In A Rideshare Accident?

Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft have added hundreds of thousands of jobs to the gig economy and changed the way people navigate their city. But they have also raised questions about legal liability and the rights of passengers in the event of a rideshare accident.

What happens if you are in a crash while riding as a customer in an Uber vehicle? Who is liable for any injuries you may have suffered in a rideshare accident? Do you need a rideshare accident attorney to handle your case? If the ride you hired got rudely interrupted, here are a few things you should know to help guide you through the process.

Rideshare Facts And Statistics

According to a 2019 Safety Report, Uber provides around 45 trips per second in the United States — roughly four billion trips in 2017 and 2018 alone. The company maintains that its accident rate per million miles traveled is far lower than that of many other forms of transportation, with only 97 fatal crashes during that two-year period. But other analysts contend that the exploding rideshare market has reduced use of public transit, increased congestion, and contributed to an overall increase in fatal crashes in the U.S. since 2010. It’s also added to the complexity of the legal landscape for passengers who get injured in a rideshare crash.

Steps You Should Take After A Rideshare Accident

The first thing to do is remain calm. Go through the same checklist of immediate actions you would take in any car accident:

1. Check for injuries. Symptoms may not surface right away; if the impact was significant or you feel woozy, it makes sense to get checked out by paramedics. If there are other passengers, take a moment and check whether everyone else is safe.
2. Call 911. Depending on the situation, it can be critical to get emergency services right away.
3. Collect information from those involved and any witnesses— names, licenses, insurance contacts, and so on. Preserve the data on your phone regarding your driver and ride details.
4. Take photos of the damages and the surrounding scene; also take notes of whatever details you consider significant regarding possible injuries or circumstances surrounding the accident.
5. File an accident report. You may also want to advise your insurance company of the situation.

Who Is Liable For Damages In A Rideshare Accident?

If the driver of the other car is at fault, that driver may be liable for any injuries or property damage caused by the crash. However, if that driver is uninsured or under-insured, the injured Uber passenger can bring a claim against the $1 million Uber accident policy that covers the active Uber driver and passengers.

If your rideshare driver is at fault, that doesn’t mean you automatically have a claim against the rideshare company. Uber drivers are independent contractors, and the automobiles they operate are typically their personal vehicles. Uber requires all of their drivers to carry liability insurance and also provides supplemental insurance to cover incidents that happen during the course of work—when the Uber app is on. Whether the drivers are waiting to accept a request, on their way to pick up passengers or transporting them, both Uber and Lyft drivers and their passengers are covered under liability policies that the companies provide. But the companies differ in how they apply the coverage, and if the driver is considered “off duty” when the incident happened, the policy may not apply, compelling you to make a claim against the driver’s personal insurance.

Do You Need A Rideshare Accident Attorney?

Because of all the variables involved, a rideshare accident can become a complicated legal claim, especially when there are multiple drivers and passengers making personal injury claims with multiple insurance companies. That’s why it’s important to get an experienced rideshare accident lawyer involved early in the process. A rideshare accident attorney can make sure that the rideshare company preserves all the relevant data regarding your ride, fully document your injuries, and make sure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

Meet Cindy and Learn About Her Snowy Car Accident Experience

THE CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS AT FDAZAR

For nearly forty years the attorneys at Franklin D. Azar & Associates have helped thousands of injured people obtain complete and timely compensation for their losses. Our proven track record and expertise in serious injury cases have allowed us to grow into the largest personal injury law firm in Colorado, with offices in Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Grand Junction, Greeley, Lakewood, Littleton, Longmont, Pueblo, and Thornton. If you’ve been injured in a bus, car, rideshare,  truck, or motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Please call the car accident attorneys at FDAzar day or night at 800-716-9032, or contact us here for a free consultation and no-obligation evaluation of your case.