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As the Baltimore region begins to warm up and recover from an intense winter, roads, pipes and other infrastructure weakened by the below-freezing temperatures are expected to be damaged further by the sudden rise in temperatures.
“It’s that constant freeze-thaw cycle, and it’s exasperating in the Mid-Atlantic, especially here in Maryland, where we see those extremes,” stated David Buck, a State Highway Administration spokesman.
The recent weather has been particularly unkind to the state’s roadways, as water slips into cracks in asphalt, freezes and expands. Crews have been busy working between spurts of extreme conditions to plug potholes and other cracks with temporary “cold patches,” which the highway administration hopes will hold until permanent fixes can be made in the spring.
From December 1 through January 9, Baltimore City’s transportation department fielded 415 calls for service on potholes and 1,548 calls for service for icy road conditions in the city. That’s almost twice the number of pothole calls logged during the same period last year and nearly four times the calls for icy conditions.
Adverse Weather Conditions and Car Accidents
There are many causes of car accidents, but bad weather can be the most daunting. If you have to drive in inclement weather, it is important to stay alert, slow down and learn how to control your vehicle when conditions are not ideal. While you cannot control the weather, you can take steps on your end to prevent car wrecks. Make sure a mechanic inspects your car annually to ensure that your tires, battery, transmission, windshield wipers and other components are working properly. While these steps may seem expensive, the cost to prevent a car accident is far less than the harm a car crash can cause.
If you have been injured in a car accident due to factors outside of your control, speak to one of our attorneys today to tell us about your situation. Feel free to comment below or you can visit our Facebook page to tell us more.
Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis L.L.P.
Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia Injury Attorneys