Essential Winter Car Items to Keep in Your Trunk for Winter Driving
Written by Cooper & Friedman PLLC on December 4, 2023
It’s that time of year to be preparing for the winter in many different ways! From stocking up on road salt, insulating your house, putting chains on tires, or buying a new coat, winter prompts a lot of precautions to be taken. Above all, though, one safety measure that we cannot stress enough is to stock your car with a winter-grade emergency kit. This kit should contain essential winter car items that will keep you and your loved ones safe if you are involved in a car accident in freezing temperatures or inclement weather.
Car accidents are a major concern year-round. However, in the winter, the risk of car accidents and their consequences are exacerbated for a number of reasons, including:
- Reduced Visibility
- This can be due to weather or darkness, as we have less hours of sunlight in the winter.
- Slippery Road Conditions
- Increased Traffic for the Holidays
- Increased Out-of-Town Drivers from Holiday Travel
- Car Malfunctions from the Cold
- More Teenagers Driving While on Winter Break
Louisville Car Accident lawyers Cooper and Friedman can help you sort out the damages afterwards, but you’ll need to stay safe in the event of a winter car accident and it pays off to be prepared with a stock of essential winter car items.
Normal Car Emergency Kits vs Winter Car Emergency Kits
The US DHS has a list of items that should be included in an everyday car emergency kit, such as:
- Jumper cables
- First Aid kit
- Flares or reflective triangle
- Ice scraper
- Car cell phone charger
- Blanket
- Map
- Cat litter or sand (for better tire traction)
However, with low temperatures and slower emergency personnel response times due to weather, essential winter car items differ from the everyday. The goal of a winter car kit is to keep you extra warm, visible, and protected win extreme weather. You can never predict how long you might be stranded on the road, how far away you might be from the next town or city, or if you’ll still have electricity and heat from your car. Ultimately, you should be prepared for any situation!
Winter emergency car kit items can include:
- Cell phone charger
- Fully-charged portable power bank
- First Aid kit
- Jumper cables
- Tire chains or snow tires
- Flares
- Water
- Non-perishable snacks
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- Snow boots
- Mittens/gloves
- Warm clothes
- Blankets/sleeping bag
- Tow rope
- Retractable snow shovel
- Ice scraper/snow brush
- Sand/cat litter
Car Accidents in the Winter: Cooper and Friedman Can Help
In addition to keeping a winter emergency kit in your car, you can mitigate your risk of getting into a winter bind by keeping up with your car’s maintenance, keeping a full tank of gas, practicing safe driving habits, and being aware of the conditions outside. However, you cannot predict all car accidents, whether they are your fault or not. Cooper and Friedman are Louisville’s motor vehicle accident attorneys, and we can help you navigate your court case. Call us for a free consultation today!
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in the State of Kentucky and are in need of an experienced car accident attorney, give the lawyers at the Cooper & Friedman law firm a call. The attorneys at Cooper and Friedman PLLC have over 50 years of combined experience defending the rights of motor vehicle accident victims. Contact us with questions you might have or schedule a free case consultation with an attorney by calling 502-459-7555 today.