5 Winter Safety Tips to Help Keep You and Your Family Safe

Thompson Law cares about you and your family. Winter can be a dangerous time not just when you’re driving, but also when you’re at home. To help keep you and your family safe, we’ve put together this list of winter safety tips when driving.

Winter Driving Safety

Ice, snow, freezing rain, and even fog can make driving dangerous during the winter. Did you know that most accidents happen when you’re just a few miles from home? It’s true. While it’s not possible to remove the 100% of winter driving risks, you can reduce it by following the tips below, as well as other winter safety tips from the National Safety Council (NSC).

If you must be on the roads, drive under the speed limit. With freezing rain, ice, and snow, it’s important to understand that there are several risks. Some of the risks include when bridges and overpasses ice over, black ice, and vehicles that don’t have good traction. Hydroplaning is extremely serious, and you may not know your tires don’t have enough traction until you need to bring your vehicle to a stop.

If you must be on the roads driving in bad winter weather, drive under the speed limit. This will help give you time to stop. Remember, don’t slam on your brakes. Give yourself plenty of room between your vehicle and other vehicles.

Keep blankets, flashlights, and other emergency supplies in your car or truck. Winters in Texas can be tough. If you end up stranded in the cold weather, you want to make sure that you have the supplies you need to stay safe and warm. Put blankets, flashlights, and snacks (like crackers) in your car. You should also have an emergency battery-powered phone charger just in case your car or truck has a dead battery. If your cell phone is dead at the same time, you won’t be able to call for help. Having a secondary way to charge your phone can save your life.

Winter Safety at Home

Home is where the heart is, but there are also some extra hazards in the winter that could cause you, your family or your friends to get hurt. Follow these safety tips to help protect yourself and your loved ones.

Stock-up on Salt Although a mild winter is predicted for the Midwest, that’s not a guarantee of no snow or ice. To help protect yourself and those you love, stock-up on salt to keep your porch, steps, sidewalk, and driveway just a little bit safer. A slip and fall can cause serious injuries, particularly if the person who falls hits their head on the concrete or frozen ground.

Double-check Your Smoke Alarm Batteries Between the Christmas lights, a live Christmas tree, and spending more time in the kitchen, it’s important that your smoke detectors are working. Change the batteries in your smoke detectors to help protect your property and your family.

Don’t Overload Electrical Outlets Who doesn’t love a fantastic Christmas lights display? While it’s festive and puts us all in the spirit, remember that safety should come first. Don’t overload your electrical outlets or extension cords. It is reported by the NFPA that more than one-third of fires during the Christmas holiday season happens because of holiday lights.

Practice Winter Safety!

Thompson Law hopes you and your family have a fantastic and safe winter. We’re also here if you need us. If you have a question about a potential personal injury case, call us toll-free at 844-308-8180, in Dallas at 214-444-4444, or in Fort Worth at 817-444-4444. THE FOURS are here to keep you and your family safe during the holidays.

If you are in an accident this winter, know that we charge NO FEE unless we win. You will not incur any attorney fees, court costs, legal expenses, or any other costs unless we recover money on your behalf. If we do obtain a settlement for you, our fee will only come out of a portion of the settlement. So call today for a free consultation if you have been injured in any accident.