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Kirk Bernard's Six Tips for Driving Safely During Winter

Kirk Bernard
December 08, 2009
It's officially winter time now. We've started seeing the first flurries of snow in parts of Washington. Winter time and the holidays do present a pretty picture and can be pleasantly memorable most of the time. But that certainly isn't the case when it comes to auto accidents caused due to bad weather. As an experienced Seattle auto accident attorney, Kirk Bernard is aware that the holidays and winter season are prime time for serious injury and fatal accidents because drivers do not take the necessary precautions and take the weather into consideration. This can result in tragic or catastrophic accidents. Please do not let this happen to you or your family. Here are a few steps you can take to drive safely this winter.



  • Install tire chains. When you drive in the snow, you need chains. Practice if you must to familiarize yourself with the process.


  • Slow down. Speed and wintry conditions make for a lethal combination. Also, make sure that you are not following other vehicles too closely. According to officials, 85 percent of winter driving collisions occur because people do not give themselves enough time to stop.


  • If you are involved in a minor collision, such as a fender bender, please move your vehicles out of the way safely and quickly. In bad weather, visibility can be hampered and what is a minor, non-injury collision can become a multi-vehicle major injury or fatal crash.


  • Make sure you clear out your windows and windshield before you start driving. In Washington State, drivers caught without their windows properly scraped could face hefty fines.


  • Studded tires are allowed on vehicles in Washington from Nov. 1 through April 1. Studded tires do help vehicles stop better on icy road at or near freezing. You may also want to consider all-season tires.


  • Never start driving without your winter emergency kit. You need jumper cables, sand, ice scraper, warm clothing, blankets, flashlights and of course, extra batteries. You would also be well-advised to have a first-aid kit, food items such as nutrition bars, water, an AM/FM radio and a shovel.


    • If you or a loved one is seriously injured in a Washington car accident due to another driver's negligence, please contact The Bernard Law Firm to find out more about your legal rights and options. Call our skilled Seattle personal injury attorneys today to request your free and comprehensive consultation. We will also be happy to send you a free informational brochure about Washington car accidents and filing a personal injury claim.
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    Kirk Bernard

    For more than 20 years, Kirk Bernard has been a civil litigator working to help protect the rights of personal injury victims. In obtaining millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for his clients, Kirk Bernard´s efforts have assisted Washington accident victims in receiving the compensation they need to help pay for expenses associated with their injuries brought on by another individual´s negligence.

    Inspired by his father, Saul Bernard, who tried hundreds of cases beginning in the 1930s, Kirk Bernard strives to uphold the family-rooted objective of making a difference to those who have been wronged by another. In addition to being a skilled Seattle personal injury attorney, Kirk Bernard is also a member of ATLA, the Consumer Attorney´s Association, and an eagle member of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association.

    In his many years of experience litigating injury cases, Kirk Bernard has the legal knowledge and skills to help any personal injury victim or family members of a wrongful death victim in obtaining justice for the harm that has befallen upon them.