Amid the recent heavy snowfalls in New Jersey’s center parts, safety authorities cautioned drivers about the hazards posed by snow squalls. According to the National Weather Service, snow squalls are short-lived, intense bursts of exceptionally heavy snowfalls. When they occur, the risk of car accidents is significantly higher.
Road safety authorities say snow squalls, accompanied by strong, gusty wind can cause dangerous whiteouts with almost zero visibility. Wind speeds can reach up to 30 mph. Along with heavy snow that produces slick conditions on the roadways, maintaining control of a vehicle can be challenging.
Although most snow squalls last no longer than about 15 minutes, some have been recorded to last as long as one hour. This phenomenon can happen during the night, although they are more common during the daytime. Drivers were cautioned only to take essential trips as long as the warnings were active and, when they do, to take particular care and adjust their driving to suit the conditions.
Victims of car accidents that occur during squalls or other adverse weather conditions in New Jersey might have grounds to pursue claims for financial relief. However, for a civil lawsuit to be successful, another party’s recklessness or negligence must be shown to have materially contributed to the crash. Under such conditions, this might be challenging without the support and guidance of an experienced personal injury attorney. A lawyer can assess the circumstances and launch an independent investigation before presenting the claim before the court in pursuit of documented economic losses along with pain and suffering and other noneconomic damages.