{"id":3739,"date":"2018-01-24T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-24T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allenandallen.com\/the-hazard-of-black-ice-and-how-it-might-impact-your-personal-injury-case\/"},"modified":"2025-11-07T19:39:59","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T00:39:59","slug":"el-peligro-del-hielo-negro-y-como-podria-afectar-su-caso-de-lesiones-personales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allenandallen.com\/es\/blog\/the-hazard-of-black-ice-and-how-it-might-impact-your-personal-injury-case\/","title":{"rendered":"El peligro del hielo negro y c\u00f3mo podr\u00eda afectar su caso de lesiones personales"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winter weather poses many challenges for drivers, and perhaps the most dangerous of them all is black ice.<\/p>\n

What is black ice and how is it formed?<\/h2>\n

Black ice is a slippery, hard-to-spot, and potentially deadly road hazard that can be found anywhere that cold temperatures and precipitation mix.<\/p>\n

“The biggest danger [with black ice] is that you are at the mercy of your vehicle and the ice until your car passes over it,” said Julie Lee, vice president and national director of AARP Driver Safety.<\/p>\n

Black ice is particularly an issue in Virginia where the weather may be too warm for snow, but the ground temperature is cold enough to convert rain or sleet into ice.\u00a0 The ground temperature can cause the precipitation to freeze upon impact, thus creating ice. Black ice can also be created from sleet or the refreezing of snow or water.<\/p>\n

Black ice gets its name because it blends in with the color of the pavement. “It’s called black ice because it tends to look like the rest of the pavement on the road, but it’s actually clear,” Lee said. This makes black ice extremely difficult to spot.<\/p>\n

The best way to prepare for when roads are likely to be icy is to know when, where and how black ice forms. Black ice most often forms when temperatures are the lowest, typically between sunset and sunrise. Pay attention to your car\u2019s thermometer to determine whether the temperature is below freezing and prone to the formation of black ice.<\/p>\n

During the day, the best thing to do before getting in your vehicle is to look at the pavement. “If the pavement is dry but you are seeing spots of pavement that look dark and glossy, that is probably going to be black ice,” Lee said.<\/p>\n

Black ice is particularly hard to see in the dark, so it is important to know the conditions before traveling.<\/p>\n

Common sites for black ice are tree-covered driveways or roadways since the lack of sunlight can cause lower temperatures. Because of their tendency to freeze quickly, bridges and overpasses are also prime locations.<\/p>\n

Tips for driving on black ice<\/h2>\n

While driving on black ice can be similar to driving on snow, the biggest difference between the two is the amount of traction the vehicle maintains on snow as compared to black ice. “With snow, there is still some traction; whereas on ice, there is no traction\u2014and that’s where it becomes very dangerous,” Lee said. Due to a vehicle’s lack of traction on ice, the basic rule for driving on black ice is to stay calm and let the vehicle pass over it, according to Lee.<\/p>\n