Wet Weather Driving Accidents

Here in the Atlanta area – and the great State of Georgia in general – we experience wet weather throughout the winter months. Some drivers fail to take wet driving conditions into careful consideration when they get behind the wheel, and they often end up causing dangerous accidents. If a negligent driver leaves you injured in a wet-weather accident, it’s time to consult with an experienced Atlanta-area personal injury attorney. 

Wet Weather Accidents: The Statistics

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration shares significant statistics related to driving in adverse weather, including:

• Approximately 21 percent of the nearly 6 million traffic accidents each year are related to the weather.
• An average of 5,000 fatalities and 418,000 injuries are caused by weather-related accidents each year.
• The vast majority of weather-related car accidents happen on wet roads and/or during rainfall. 

Driving on wet roads demands careful attention on the part of every driver.

Obeying the Rules of the Road

Driving responsibly entails carefully abiding by the rules of the road, but there’s more to this than obeying the posted speed limit. The speed limit refers to the maximum speed at which you can legally drive – under ideal conditions. Drivers must adjust their speed to accommodate for bad weather.  Wet roads are slippery, dangerous roads, and wet weather often leads to low visibility. Both of these effects require drivers to slow down in order to drive safely.

Driving Safely in Wet Weather

Driving in wet weather is more dangerous than driving on a clear, dry day, but sometimes, it can’t be avoided. Fortunately, there are several safety tips to help keep you safer out there, inclduding:

• Regularly check your car’s lights, wipers, and tires to ensure that it’s roadworthy – regardless of the weather.
• Slow down considerably whenever the weather is wet and/or visibility is reduced.
• Keep your headlights on in wet weather.
• Use your car’s windshield wipers even in light rain or mist.  
• Allow more distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you when driving on wet roads.
• When the weather is wet, don’t use your cruise control and avoid sudden braking. 
• Avoid any standing water on the road whenever possible. 
• If your car hydroplanes – loses traction and skids across the water on the road – take your foot off the brake and steer in the direction you need the front of your car to travel.
• Wet weather and humidity go hand and hand. Keep your windows fog free by knowing how to use your vehicle’s ventilation system and implementing it according to your driving needs. 

If a Negligent Driver Leaves You Injured in Wet Weather, Slappey & Sadd Can Help

Driving in wet weather requires extreme caution. If you’ve been injured by a motorist who failed to drive responsibly in relation to the road’s condition, the dedicated legal team at Slappey & Sadd – proudly serving the Atlanta area and the State of Georgia – is here to help. Your rights and rightful compensation matter, so please do not hesitate to contact us today.