Accidents happen, and it’s best to avoid them at all costs. But what if you stumbled upon an accident that’s not your fault entirely? Sometimes, the rain can cause significant issues when driving on the road.
In most cases, drivers are still liable for recklessly driving and causing accidents to occur on the streets. However, to know if you’re responsible for any damages, you should call a car accident lawyer to help you with your legal needs when facing issues on the road.
What is Hydroplaning?
When it rains, wet roads are bound to happen. With hydroplaning, your tires make direct contact with the road’s surface. When on the road, a slippery surface will make the car slide across the pavement, thus making you lose control over the vehicle. This is when hydroplaning starts to occur.
A car accident lawyer will further investigate this situation on who will become accountable for your losses. For instance, when a driver wasn’t careful enough to adjust the speed of his car, knowing full well that the weather wasn’t favorable. For such cases, you might be eligible for compensation and injury fees.
Car Liability
In some cases, drivers are still expected to take care of the road despite the weather effects. In situations like these, drivers can still be liable for damages in the event an accident happens, and here are the few liabilities drivers get when doing the following:
- Speeding
- Not following traffic rules
- DUI or driving under the influence
- Drowsy driving
- Not following the safe distance between two cars
- Not handling a hydroplaning incident
- Not being able to inspect the vehicle in a regular period
- Not turning on their headlights when it’s raining
Having a lawyer present in these situations will help you identify these liabilities, which will prepare you in these situations.
Liability on the product
There is a delineation between car accident damages and product-related damages. When going on the road and facing an accident, the different problems may arise from sources that have nothing to do with the rain itself. These instances may be the following:
Faulty tires
When your tires are flat or have problems running, the rain has nothing to do with it. Furthermore, tires are the grips that come into contact with the surface of the road. Therefore, if the tire’s rubber is balding, a term used to describe the wear and tear of tires, you might be risking your surroundings regardless of the weather conditions.
Defective brakes
One of the most common causes of car accidents is the brakes don’t work as they should. In this case, the rain couldn’t do anything that would give you more problems, since brakes are essential to stop the car in any instances where the rain is out of the picture.
Faulty windshield wipers
This is a subject issue that most lawyers fight for in court. However, since rain is the primary reason for the unclear vision it gives off on the windshield, a faulty wiper system can also be the reason that it’s completely product-related.
While both attribute each other as either a weather-related or a product-related liability, when the wipers work well, then there’s no reason for you to see things hazily because wipers are there for a good reason.
Broken accident prevention system
While not entirely the driver’s fault, it’s also not related, nor is it in conjunction with the events of an accident when a prevention system is not triggered. While it is a product-based liability, it’s impossible to make the case that a driver has full responsibility for the prevention system not to work.
Conclusion
When facing rain and car accidents, it’s best to call up a car accident lawyer to patch legal holes and prove to the courts that you are entitled to compensation for injuries. It’s essential to utilize these fantastic legal services to prevent future accidents, primarily when compensation for damages is concerned.
Just ensure that you are traveling safely by knowing how to follow the rules and ensuring that your equipment and car parts are working very well.
