According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than two million injuries and over 32,000 fatalities take place each year as a result of motor vehicle wrecks. These traffic accidents have many causes, including driving over the speed limit, getting behind the wheel after consuming drugs or alcohol, cell phones, and other distractions. However, weather can also lead to a collision in New Orleans and on roads across Lousiana. Regrettably, some people fail to drive safely during poor weather conditions and threaten the lives of others.
The Federal Highway Administration raises awareness about many of the different weather-related hazards that are present on roads across the U.S. In some locations, snow and ice can wreak havoc during winter months. However, weather can also cause deadly accidents in places which do not have any snowfall. The FHWA reports that rainy conditions and wet roads make up for most of the traffic accidents involving weather hazards.
Aside from slick roads, there are other ways in which weather can cause a crash. For example, strong winds may cause tree branches to fall on the road, which may prompt a driver to swerve and collide with another vehicle. Furthermore, fog can limit a driver’s ability to see the road. Sadly, some people do not take proper precautions when these hazards are present and cause accidents which claim lives and leave victims with significant injuries. When recklessness leads to a crash that leaves innocent victims with hardships, those responsible should have to answer for the suffering they cause.