Rainy Day Blues: Car Accidents And Rear End Collisions

30 December 2016
 Categories: Law, Blog


Accidents can occur at any time, but when it rains and roads get wet, drivers are at an increased risk of being hit. Regardless of road conditions, drivers need to stay aware of the weather and road conditions and adjust their driving accordingly. If you have been involved in a wet road related accident, read on to learn more about safe driving and your liability in an accident.

Wet Road Hazards

Even a light mist can cause problems on the road, and many drivers fail to adjust their speed and care when rain happens. The following are just a few causes of wet road accidents:

1. Following too closely: your stopping power is reduced greatly when your tires cannot get traction on wet and slippery roads. Abide by the "3 second rule" at all times, and increase that when road conditions are bad.

2. Driving too fast: no matter what the speed limit says, slow down on wet roads and leave yourself more time to come to a stop.

3. Taking turns too fast: tires will skid on wet and slippery corners, causing you to lose control of your vehicle.

4. Failing to use your equipment: if your headlights do not come on automatically, be sure to turn them on. This not only helps you to see better, but helps other drivers to see you better. Faulty or worn-out windshield wipers that fail to clear your field of vision can lead to disastrous accidents.

The Presumed Fault of Rear End Collisions

In most cases, the driver of the car that got hit in a rear end collision is without fault, and it is easy to see why. After all, you cannot control the actions of the drivers behind you who fail to pay attention and bang into the back of your car. In some cases, however, this presumption of fault is not reliable.

In wet or slippery conditions, drivers can lose control of their vehicles, causing them to end up in places that you might not expect. If you hit a driver of a car that suddenly entered your lane due to a skid or appeared from nowhere due to being unable to stop, you may not be entirely at fault for hitting them.

If the other driver can be shown to be at fault in any manner, the question of how much each driver's share of liability arises. If you have been involved in a rear end collision where your fault in the accident could be reduced due to the actions of the other driver, you may need to contact a personal injury attorney. A close investigation of the other driver's actions is called for, including using an accident reconstruction exercise. Get some legal support, like True Guarnieri Ayer LLP, for your rainy day collision as soon as possible.


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