What Makes Black Ice Dangerous to Louisiana Drivers?

Slippery Black Ice-Related Accident Cases

When you think of icy roads, snowy northern states probably first come to mind. But even though Louisiana’s climate is usually much warmer, parts of the state can still get black ice. This transparent glaze can form on roads when rain falls, and the temperature is just below freezing (32 °F). Since it looks like a wet road surface, drivers can unknowingly drive into patches of black ice and quickly lose control of their vehicles, such as a Shreveport driver that hit a patch of black ice, slid, rolled over and stopped when his truck hit a utility pole.

At Mike Brandner Law our Louisiana car accident lawyers have assisted car accident victims that have been hurt when another driver was overcome by black ice and struck their vehicle.

Tips for Avoiding Black Ice

The following tips will help you avoid black ice:

Be especially careful in certain areas. Bridges, overpasses, and shaded areas of the road have much colder surface areas than other parts of the road, so they freeze more rapidly. This is especially true if they’re near one of Louisiana’s lakes or rivers.

Watch the cars ahead of you. Watch the cars ahead of you carefully, because if you see them brake abruptly or suddenly swerve or skid it could be an indication of black ice.

Check the road for indications. If roads look like they could be wet, but you don’t see any water spray as other cars travel over them, they could have spots of black ice. The same is true if most of the road is a dull black color but also has shiny patches.

Drive slowly. You’ll be more likely to lose control of your vehicle if you’re speeding when you hit a patch of black ice. In addition, you’ll be able to stop more quickly if the car ahead of you runs into black ice and suddenly brakes or swerves.

Use your headlights. Even if it’s not completely dark, your headlights can help you spot shiny spots on the road.

How to Navigating Black Ice

If you do hit some black ice, the following tips will help you navigate the situation safely:

• React calmly – Don’t make sudden moves. Slowly lift your foot off the accelerator as you try to get traction.
  Shift into a lower gear – If you can shift into a lower gear this can give you added control.
• Brake appropriately – If you start to skid, firmly press your brakes if you have anti-lock brakes. If you don’t have this type of brake, pump the brakes gently instead.
• Steer in the proper direction – If your front end slides, steer away from the skid. But if your back end slides, steer in the same direction as the skid.

When to Get Help from Louisiana Car Accident Attorneys

If you’ve been injured in an accident related to ice, Louisiana car accident attorneys can help you determine whether you should take legal action. These accidents may cause another car to suddenly skid into yours, possibly causing serious injuries.

Call the Louisiana car accident attorneys at Mike Brandner Law at (504) 345-1111. Our office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but we’re available 24/7 to take your call. You can also reach us via LiveChat if you’d prefer. Our firm offers free consultations, and you won’t pay a fee unless you win your case.