Winter weather seems to have arrived a little early in the Northern and Eastern parts of the country. With the news out of Buffalo about seven feet of snow, and the entire country reporting unseasonably low temperatures, it got me thinking about winter driving and how to potentially avoid crashes or injuries.

I asked my staff to share their winter driving tips*, and together we've created a list of our favorites to pass along to our readers.

Jess (Receptionist): Keep gas in your tank; ideally, you should have at least half a tank or more. Don't let it get below a quarter tank if you can avoid it.

Chrissie (Writer): Top up your windshield washer fluid before you leave your driveway! Also, invest in good wiper blades, they're worth it. And, scrape off your car… clear the snow from your windshield and lights and defrost the rear window before you leave.

Sean (Attorney): Drive with your lights on, always… day or night, good weather or bad.

Sue (Legal Secretary): Don't follow too close; leave yourself lots of room to stop. Obviously you should always do this, but it's even more important in bad or slippery weather.

Cris (Paralegal): Proceed with caution; slow down, it's not a race!

Kelly (Intake Specialist): Brake evenly when you need to. Avoid suddenly slamming on the brakes.

Eric (Attorneys): Stay home! If you don't need to go out, don't go out.

Finally, my tips:

• Check your tires: make sure the pressure is right, look for cracks or embedded objects, and watch for wear.
• Practice braking, turning, and other maneuvers in a safe place (like a parking lot) to make sure you know how your car is going to react in different weather conditions.
• Keep an accessible emergency kit inside your car. Include: bottled water; non-perishable snacks; a small shovel; sand or kitty litter; a blanket; hat and gloves or mitts; a towel or paper towels; First Aid kit; jumper cables; a flashlight and batteries; and anything else you might need if you get stuck in your vehicle.

To join the conversation or offer some driving tips of your own, find us on Facebook!

 *There's no guarantee that following these tips will prevent a crash or injuries. For more information about your rights if you have been injured in a car or motorcycle crash, by a semi truck, or in any other way, contact me directly as soon as possible after it happens so I can start working for you right away.