Black ice is a coating of transparent ice on the surface of a road or a lake. The clear ice allows the black of the road to show through, making it appear as though the ice itself is black. Black ice on the road contributes to hundreds of thousands of accidents every year.
A Long Island car accident lawyer can tell you more about black ice and can give you information about seeking compensation for your losses after an accident involving poor weather conditions.
What’s Black Ice?
Generally, drivers use the term black ice to refer to a patch of transparent ice that covers the road that you cannot usually see. You may also hear people use the term “clear ice” to refer to black ice. The ice can form when temperatures drop below freezing and precipitation occurs.
What Does Black Ice Look Like?
Black ice usually doesn’t look like anything, which is what makes it so dangerous to drivers. The ice forms in transparent sheets over the road surface, allowing the black of the road to show through, often without even a shine to give it away.
Often, black ice forms in areas without sleet, snow, or ice pellets, making it even harder for drivers to notice this hazard.
In some cases, black ice will make a road look slightly darker than usual, or duller than other unfrozen portions of the road. However, these changes can prove difficult for drivers to detect, with black ice representing one of the common causes of crashes in winter.
When Does Black Ice Form?
Black ice can form anytime temperatures dip below freezing. However, this phenomenon occurs most often in the early hours of the morning, especially on days after it snows. In these circumstances, the snow has a chance to melt in the afternoon and then refreeze through the night, resulting in black ice in the morning.
Black ice also occurs when temperatures drop to freezing after rainstorms, when the roads are still wet from the storm.
What You Need to Know About Black Ice Accidents
Black ice causes a lot of accidents in the winter months. Even experienced drivers can lose control on invisible black ice, leading to serious and sometimes catastrophic collisions. These collisions can result in property damage, injuries, and other financial losses.
Many drivers wonder if they can get compensation after an accident caused by black ice. Sometimes, insurance will cover these accidents, especially if someone else’s negligence contributed to a crash.
Who Is At Fault After a Black Ice Accident?
Any party that behaves dangerously could be at fault after an accident involving black ice. Drivers have a duty to adjust their behavior behind the wheel based on the hazards that they face, which can include black ice.
The police often expect drivers to slow down, even driving under the speed limit, if conditions are favorable for the development of ice on the road. Drivers who speed, swerve between lanes, or otherwise engage in dangerous behavior that results in a crash could have to pay for the losses of other motorists.
How to Drive on Black Ice
Driving on black ice requires care. You can prepare for this kind of hazard by slowing your speed in poor weather. You should also pay attention to the drivers in front of you. You need to react quickly if you see other vehicles sliding around.
Make sure that you keep a lot of space between you and other vehicles when you suspect dangerous road conditions from ice storms or freezing temperatures. Maintaining a healthy following distance gives you more time to react if you lose traction due to black ice.
If you hit ice and feel your car begin to slide, you should:
Continue to Slow Down
You should stop hitting the gas if you believe you hit a spot of black ice. You should slow down by taking your foot off the gas. Speeding up can increase the severity of a slide and the odds of getting into an accident.
Don’t Slam Your Brakes
Slamming the brakes can result in less control of your car, not more. You can tap your brakes to help reduce your speed, but avoid sudden changes to your rate of speed.
Turn in the Direction of the Slide
If your car starts to slide, turn your wheel in the direction you’re sliding. While this may seem counterintuitive, it can help you regain control of your vehicle.
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Talk to Us to Learn More About Black Ice
So, what is black ice? It’s the term used to describe transparent layers of ice that can form on the road, endangering motorists. If you got in an accident that involved black ice, you can reach out to our team at Levine And Wiss for help building a claim for fair compensation.
We have over a century of combined experience, and we’re ready to review your situation to determine if you have a claim for compensation.
