At Byers Chiropractic and Massage: Car Accident Urgent Care, we specialize in treating car accident injuries. Many of our patients are people that were injured in car accidents and come to our clinic to receive medical care. When people think about the most dangerous season of the year when it comes to crashes on the road, the first thing that usually comes to mind is winter. While winter causes driving risks such as snow and icy roads, it’s important to not overlook the potential hazards that autumn brings. The dangers on the road in fall may not be as apparent, so drivers need to stay alert.
Although the leaves changing colors to vibrant reds and yellows is beautiful to see, when leaves fall on roadways they can cause dangerous conditions. Many leaves have hydrophobic surfaces, meaning that they repel water. Water instead rests on the waxy surface of the leaves, which can make them slippery. Wet leaves on the road can be as slippery as ice. While ice is attached to the ground, leaves are not. This means that they can slide against both a vehicle’s tires and the road, resulting in less traction. When a car has less traction, it has a more difficult time stopping and turning. When a driver brakes on wet leaves, it can take twice as long for the car to stop than on a dry road.
The next reason why car accidents can happen in the autumn is because it’s deer season. Deer mating season happens during late autumn, which means you may see more deer out and about. Nearly half of accidents involving deer happen in October through December. Hitting a deer is a horrific accident that can involve injury and property damage. Deer are temporarily blinded by bright lights, which is why they appear to freeze in the headlights when a vehicle approaches them. The deer will stand there until their eyes adjust to the lights. Aside from hitting deer directly, deer can cause accidents when cars try to avoid them. A vehicle may hit another car, railings, or run off the road. Drivers must stay vigilant in wooded areas, especially during the fall.
Another reason that more car accidents may happen in the fall is because of sun glare. The sun is lower in the sky in autumn than summer, which means that the angle can cause glare. Because it starts getting darker earlier, many drivers have to contend with the setting sun shining in their eyes on the way home. The light may also reflect off of buildings or wet surfaces, making the glare worse. Sun glare can impact a driver’s ability to see their surroundings, including road signs and other vehicles. You can help improve your visibility by wearing sunglasses and keeping your windshield clean.
As mentioned earlier, fall brings fewer hours of daylight. This means that people are more likely to drive in the dark. People start having to go to and from work in the dark. Accidents are twice as likely to happen when it’s dark versus during the daytime. Driving cautiously is crucial if you are driving in the dark or at nighttime. Turn on your headlights as soon as the light begins to wane so that you can see the road. It’s also important to stay focused on the road so that your reaction time is faster and you can avoid hazards.
Another cause of car accidents in the fall is weather conditions. Rain can cause visibility problems, make it difficult to see the road in front of you, and make the road slippery. Drivers often have to deal with it because it rains so much in Washington. It’s important to be careful on wet roads so that your vehicle doesn’t start hydroplaning. When a car hydroplanes, it doesn’t have traction with the road, and the driver loses control of the vehicle. If it is raining strongly and it’s hard to see the road, especially at night, it’s smart to pull off of the road and wait until the rain lets up a bit. You should try to slow down and stay focused when driving through heavy rain.
Another weather condition more common in the fall that can cause car accidents is fog. Because autumn is colder and has longer nights, fog forms more easily. Fog is more likely to develop in the morning, meaning that people may have hindered visibility on their way to work or school. People may try to use their high beam headlights, but the light may reflect off of the water droplets in the air and actually make visibility worse. Over 16,300 people are injured from fog-related auto accidents in America every year. Additionally, around 600 people die from fog-related car accidents annually.
Fall is also when school starts up again. If you have to drive near a school zone, this means more traffic and pedestrians. It’s crucial that you pay attention to your surroundings while you’re driving in or near a school zone. This also includes stopping for buses dropping off children. Children may have to cross the road on their way to and from school. The last thing that anyone wants is to hit a child with their vehicle, which is why you must pay attention at all times while on the road. Increased traffic as parents drop off or pick up their children can create situations that lead to car accidents. Inattention is a top cause of car accidents. Someone might be stuck in traffic near a school and go on their phone, only to end up rear-ending another vehicle.
72 percent of American drivers live in states where fall has the most car accidents. October is one of the months that sees the most accidents in Washington. If you were involved in a car accident, it’s important to see a medical care provider as soon as possible. Even if you don’t have obvious signs of injury, it’s a good idea to visit a chiropractor. They can perform a health exam and determine if you were injured. Byers Chiropractic and Massage: Car Accident Urgent Care specializes in treating car accident victims, and are prepared to help you heal and recover. Set up an appointment with our clinic today.
