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Icy road conditions are the cause for a car accident in Montgomery County, Maryland, on January 18.
According to news reports, emergency personnel responded to a single-car crash on 18600 Brook Road near Celebrity Lane and Chandlee Mill Road around 9:30 a.m. The car had slid on the icy road and hit a tree.
A spokesperson for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services described the road as a “sheet of ice.”
Two people were inside the car but did not need emergency medical treatment.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, approximately 24 percent of weather-related car crashes occur on snowy, slushy or icy pavement annually. Over 1,300 people are killed and more tha 116,800 people are injured because of winter weather car accidents.
Driving on ice requires specific techniques and precautions that differ from normal driving conditions. When encountering icy roads, the key is to be smooth and deliberate with all controls – steering, braking, and acceleration. Sudden movements are particularly dangerous, so any speed or direction changes should be gradual and planned well in advance.
If your vehicle begins to skid on ice, the proper response is counterintuitive for many drivers. Instead of slamming on the brakes, you should ease off the accelerator and steer gently in the direction you want to go. Looking where you want the car to go, rather than at what you might hit, helps maintain control. For cars with anti-lock brakes (ABS), apply steady pressure; for those without, pump the brakes gently.
Preparation is essential when icy conditions are possible. This includes maintaining good tire tread depth and proper inflation, ensuring your battery is strong, and keeping your gas tank at least half full. Winter tires can provide significantly better traction on ice than all-season tires, particularly at temperatures below freezing.
If you are involved in a car accident where icy road conditions are to blame, filing a personal injury lawsuit can be difficult. In Maryland, ice-related accidents involve some unique legal considerations when determining liability. Maryland follows the contributory negligence rule, which means if you’re found to be even 1% at fault for the accident, you may be barred from recovering damages. This makes ice-related accidents particularly complex from a legal standpoint.
If you’re involved in an ice-related accident, liability often depends on whether drivers exercised reasonable care given the conditions. For example, if another driver was traveling at highway speeds during icy conditions and lost control, they might be held liable despite the ice being a factor. Conversely, if you were driving cautiously and hit an unexpected patch of black ice, you might have a stronger defense.
Insurance companies often try to categorize ice-related accidents as “acts of God” to minimize payouts. However, Maryland courts typically reject this defense unless the ice condition was truly unexpected and unforeseeable. The presence of ice doesn’t automatically absolve drivers of responsibility for maintaining control of their vehicles.
Your best option follow a winter weather car accident is to contact a Montgomery County car accident lawyer to learn your options. Contact Regan Zambri Long today to schedule a free consultation.
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This post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. If you or a loved one has been injured, please seek immediate medical care.
