Black ice is a slick and thin sheet of ice that can develop on asphalt in frigid temperatures. Right now, America is experiencing one of the coldest winters of all time and the Polar Vortex is causing ice to collect on streets all throughout the middle of the U.S. and up onto the east coast. Oftentimes, black ice is hard to notice. Many drivers may not see the sleet, ice pellets, or snow that has collected on the road and this leads to the danger of unawareness.
Those that are now aware of the dangerous ice under their wills may slam on the brakes only to skid down the road or collide with another car because of a loss of traction. The most dangerous place for ice to collect on the roads is on bridges or overpasses. This is because a bridge is exposed to air on all of its surfaces. On the other hand, most roads are only exposed to air on one surface.
When temperatures drop, the bridges will cool faster than a normal road, and accumulate snow and ice faster than roadways on solid ground. Because bridges are often suspended at great heights, the risk of a crash can lead to deadly collisions or rollovers. Just recently a security camera captured footage of a car rolling off of an icy bridge in St. Paul, Minnesota.
In this case, the state patrol reported that the conditions were icy. The driver sped onto the bridge unaware that ice was collecting and skid over the guard rail, twisting and landing in a pond near the southbound lanes of the I35E interstate. The woman who was driving this vehicle survived the crash but was still taken to the Regions Hospital where she was declared to be in fair condition.
The State Patrol claims that the woman's survival is remarkable. Patrols say that this woman was not aware of the danger of black ice on the bridge and drove too fast. Patrols say that black ice typically only forms in subzero temperatures. In the past few days, plummeting temperatures have raised the probability for black ice patches all throughout the United States. Road crews in Minnesota say that they cannot put any chemicals down to keep black ice from forming on the roads until the temperatures rise to be above 15 degrees because of the way that the chemicals interact with the surface.
Because of this, many drivers throughout the United States are currently at extreme risk to dangerous accidents such as this one that occurred in Minnesota. Crews say that the cold front is almost over, and chemicals will be deposited on roads all over America to try and avoid more black ice formations. Black ice is commonly considered an "invisible danger" and drivers need to be aware of this.
Some highway patrols take the initiative to warn drivers by putting out warning signs on the interstates. If you have been injured in a collision and want assistance in seeking compensation from any party-at-fault then don't hesitate to call a local car accident attorney to assist you today.
For example, if a driver ahead of you sped onto a bridge that was covered in black ice and spun out, causing a collision that you were involved in, then you may be able to seek compensation from the party-at-fault for approaching the bridge without the proper care. Also, if a road is at a high risk for black ice and no warning was posted, then you may be able to seek compensation. Hire a car accident attorney near you to learn more!