First Big Snow of Season Coming - Are you prepared?

December 11, 2017, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

If the forecast is to be believed we could be facing 5-10 cm of snow today brought to us by wide open Great Lakes and an Alberta Clipper. This is a good time to review basic safety for winter driving and walking. We've all heard the tips, but somehow every year people forget how to get around in the snow it seems.

1. Wear winter boots to prevent slips and falls.
2. Use snow tires. They should be on when temperatures fall below 5'C. All season tires are not winter tires.
3. Clear your walkways, and driveways of snow to prevent slip and falls. Use salt and sand appropriately to combat ice and slippery patches. Shovel regularly in extended snow storms. Lift with your knees, not your back, and take regular breaks. Many people have heart attacks from shovelling each year. It's hard work.
4. Is your car winter safety kit in the car? It will do you no good in the garage or in the house. Regular items include a hat and warm mitts, flares, a shovel, cat littler or traction devices, a candle and matches, a tin can to melt snow. Booster cables, some snack foods and a 'high viz' reflective vest and blaze orange toque will help you as well.
5. Clear your car of ice and snow BEFORE you start to drive. Make sure you can see out all your windows. Keep a snow scraper in the car.
6. Keep your gas tank over 1/2 full to prevent condensation from forming and to keep your motor running in a winter car accident traffic snarl.
7. Review your winter safety driving guidelines:
   1. SLOW DOWN really, SLOW DOWN. Stopping distances will increase substantially on snowy roads.
   2. Slow down, steering and skids are better controlled at lower speeds.
   3. Pay attention to the road.
   4. Keep two hands on the wheel.
   5. If you crash on a highway and cannot get well off the side of the road then stay in your car with your seatbelt on and call 911 for immediate help.
   6. Make sure you have an extra jug of washer fluid in the car. When you need it there is no substitute.
   7. Pay extra attention around snow plows staying well back on the roads. Do not attempt to pass a plow.
   8. Look out at street corners for pedestrians hidden behind snow banks.

For more winter safety tips see the MTO site.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

It is important that you review your accident benefit file with one of our experienced personal injury / car accident lawyers to ensure that you obtain access to all your benefits which include, but are limited to, things like physiotherapy, income replacement benefits, vocational retraining and home modifications.