Fall is a favorite season for many. The cooler air after the summer heat feels brisk and refreshing. The season also brings a variety of changes to the weather, which affects nature and wildlife. For us humans, it marks the beginning of the school year, fall sports and the hunting season.
Seasonal hazards
While we do not have the Northeast and Midwest’s long seasons, fall is still a time of transition. This means it is time for drivers to acknowledge some new challenges:
- Slippery roads: New Mexico is undoubtedly arid, but the colder temperatures can lead to frost or ice on the roads, particularly at higher elevations.
- Kids crossing: School is back in session, so drivers need to observe speed limits in school zones and exercise caution around buses.
- Tire pressure: The cooler temperatures cause less tire pressure, which means vehicles maneuver more sluggishly.
- Animals on the road: According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, drivers are 3.5 times more likely to hit an animal in November. This is due to hunting season and rutting season for big game like deer.
- Shorter days: Commuters more likely find themselves driving at sunrise, sunset or in the dark, which increases the likelihood of not seeing a hazard, pedestrian or another vehicle.
Legal guidance is often essential
Victims in a motor vehicle crash caused by drivers not exercising extra caution in the fall often count on personal injury attorneys to help them get the compensation they deserve. This can help cover lost income due to injury or death, related medical expenses not paid by insurance and the pain and suffering caused by the injuries.
