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How to Prevent a Rear-End Collision in Rainy Conditions
Mar22
Posted by The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic in Car Accidents
When the road is wet, your chance of being involved in an accident increases. This is for a few reasons, such as the lowered visibility level due to rain and mist and how the road becomes more slippery when water has accumulated on it. Hydroplaning becomes an issue when rain is especially heavy – a common occurrence in Florida.
73 percent of the weather-related crashes that were reported from 2004 to 2013.
Wet pavement played a role in 80 percent of these crashes that led to injuries and 77 percent of weather-related traffic fatalities during that period.
If you have been injured in a rear-end collision or any other type of car accident caused by a wet roadway, you could be entitled to monetary compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim. To learn more about seeking compensation through this type of claim, speak with an experienced Florida car accident attorney.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in the Rain
A wet roadway can make normal driving maneuvers more difficult. This is why drivers need to adjust how they drive according to the weather and other factors in their driving environment, such as the time of day and the traffic patterns.
Many car accidents that happen during rainy weather are due to drivers’ failure to adjust to the conditions. Some examples of specific ways drivers put themselves and others at risk of being involved in collisions during rainstorms include:
This final point can be avoided by routinely checking your windshield wipers to ensure their effectiveness. When your wiper blades become worn out and reach the point where they simply move around water on your windshield instead of pulling it away, have them replaced or replace them yourself with new wiper blades.
Presumption of Fault in Rear-End Accidents
You might have been told that when a rear-end car accident occurs, it is always the fault of the driver whose car collides with the car in front. This is false. Although the driver of the rear car is usually at fault for causing a rear-end collision, he or she can overcome the presumption of fault in certain circumstances. Sometimes, the driver whose car is hit can be the reason for the collision, due to a loss of control of his or her vehicle or another factor, such as distracted driving, that caused him or her to stop short or make an irrational move.
Determining which driver is at fault for an accident requires an investigation of the collision. The investigation involves the review of all pieces of evidence that are available, such as photographs or video surveillance of the accident, testimony from any witnesses to the accident, and a digital reconstruction of the accident that incorporates all relevant factors, such as the rainy weather.
If both drivers are found to be at fault, the total amount of compensation the claimant may recover is reduced according to the percentage of fault he or she has for the accident under Florida’s pure comparative fault law. For example, if Driver A is found to be 70 percent at fault for an accident, and Driver B is found to be 30 percent at fault, Driver A can only recover 30 percent of the total compensation amount that he or she would have been able if he or she had been zero percent at fault for the accident. Because Driver A was 70 percent at fault, his or her compensation amount was reduced by 70 percent.
Tips for Avoiding Accidents in the Rain
The most important thing you can do to protect yourself and others when driving in the rain is adjusting how you drive according to the current weather conditions. Drive more slowly, take turns slowly, and be sure to give your fellow motorists ample following distance. Always use your headlights whenever your wipers are on. Other ways you can reduce your chance of being involved in a weather-related car accident include the routine replacement of your windshield wiper blades and tires. Tires whose treads become worn down cannot grip the road effectively, putting drivers at a greater risk of sliding on wet pavement.
A good way to know when to replace your tires is the penny test. To perform the penny test on your tires, place a penny upside down between the tread at various points on your tire. Are there any points on the tire where you can see all of Lincoln’s head? If so, your tires have worn down to 2/32” of their total depth, and it is time to replace your tires.
AAA Exchange discusses how you can handle a skid to reduce your chance of being injured in a car accident. If you feel your car begin to skid, look and steer in the direction that you want the car to go. Avoid rash moves like slamming on the brakes. Instead, calmly guide the car until it slows to a stop.
Work with a Jacksonville Personal Injury Attorney
If you are suffering from an injury sustained in a weather-related car accident, you could be facing steep medical bills and financial instability because of your inability to work while recovering. You can have these expenses and others related to your injury covered through a personal injury claim. To get started on your claim, contact our team of Jacksonville personal injury attorneys at The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic today to schedule your free legal consultation with us.
When the road is wet, your chance of being involved in an accident increases. This is for a few reasons, such as the lowered visibility level due to rain and mist and how the road becomes more slippery when water has accumulated on it. Hydroplaning becomes an issue when rain is especially heavy – a common occurrence in Florida.
In fact, the Federal Highway Administration cited wet pavement as a contributing factor in
If you have been injured in a rear-end collision or any other type of car accident caused by a wet roadway, you could be entitled to monetary compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim. To learn more about seeking compensation through this type of claim, speak with an experienced Florida car accident attorney.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in the Rain
A wet roadway can make normal driving maneuvers more difficult. This is why drivers need to adjust how they drive according to the weather and other factors in their driving environment, such as the time of day and the traffic patterns.
Many car accidents that happen during rainy weather are due to drivers’ failure to adjust to the conditions. Some examples of specific ways drivers put themselves and others at risk of being involved in collisions during rainstorms include:
This final point can be avoided by routinely checking your windshield wipers to ensure their effectiveness. When your wiper blades become worn out and reach the point where they simply move around water on your windshield instead of pulling it away, have them replaced or replace them yourself with new wiper blades.
Presumption of Fault in Rear-End Accidents
You might have been told that when a rear-end car accident occurs, it is always the fault of the driver whose car collides with the car in front. This is false. Although the driver of the rear car is usually at fault for causing a rear-end collision, he or she can overcome the presumption of fault in certain circumstances. Sometimes, the driver whose car is hit can be the reason for the collision, due to a loss of control of his or her vehicle or another factor, such as distracted driving, that caused him or her to stop short or make an irrational move.
Determining which driver is at fault for an accident requires an investigation of the collision. The investigation involves the review of all pieces of evidence that are available, such as photographs or video surveillance of the accident, testimony from any witnesses to the accident, and a digital reconstruction of the accident that incorporates all relevant factors, such as the rainy weather.
If both drivers are found to be at fault, the total amount of compensation the claimant may recover is reduced according to the percentage of fault he or she has for the accident under Florida’s pure comparative fault law. For example, if Driver A is found to be 70 percent at fault for an accident, and Driver B is found to be 30 percent at fault, Driver A can only recover 30 percent of the total compensation amount that he or she would have been able if he or she had been zero percent at fault for the accident. Because Driver A was 70 percent at fault, his or her compensation amount was reduced by 70 percent.
Tips for Avoiding Accidents in the Rain
The most important thing you can do to protect yourself and others when driving in the rain is adjusting how you drive according to the current weather conditions. Drive more slowly, take turns slowly, and be sure to give your fellow motorists ample following distance. Always use your headlights whenever your wipers are on. Other ways you can reduce your chance of being involved in a weather-related car accident include the routine replacement of your windshield wiper blades and tires. Tires whose treads become worn down cannot grip the road effectively, putting drivers at a greater risk of sliding on wet pavement.
A good way to know when to replace your tires is the penny test. To perform the penny test on your tires, place a penny upside down between the tread at various points on your tire. Are there any points on the tire where you can see all of Lincoln’s head? If so, your tires have worn down to 2/32” of their total depth, and it is time to replace your tires.
AAA Exchange discusses how you can handle a skid to reduce your chance of being injured in a car accident. If you feel your car begin to skid, look and steer in the direction that you want the car to go. Avoid rash moves like slamming on the brakes. Instead, calmly guide the car until it slows to a stop.
Work with a Jacksonville Personal Injury Attorney
If you are suffering from an injury sustained in a weather-related car accident, you could be facing steep medical bills and financial instability because of your inability to work while recovering. You can have these expenses and others related to your injury covered through a personal injury claim. To get started on your claim, contact our team of Jacksonville personal injury attorneys at The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic today to schedule your free legal consultation with us.