Hydroplaning is a danger when Florida has rainstorms. It occurs when water stays on your car’s tires and disconnects them from the road. The car floats, while drivers lose braking and steering control. If hydroplaning causes an accident, who’s at fault? Here are a few possibilities:
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- The driver: If drivers don’t maintain their tires or adjust speed for road conditions, they can be at fault in an accident. Avoiding hydroplaning requires close attention and quick decisions. Those can be difficult if a driver is distracted or moving too fast.
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- Tire manufacturers: Product defects in tires also cause accidents. If tires can’t maintain inflation or they have defects causing uneven wear, drivers are more likely to lose control and hydroplane–causing an accident.
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- Municipalities: If city governments leave roads to accumulate water, they may be responsible for hydroplaning accidents. Examples of municipal neglect may include poor road maintenance, backed-up gutters, or ignoring design flaws.
Avoiding hydroplaning
There are some things you can do to avoid hydroplaning and causing an accident. They include:
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- Maintaining your tires: Check for proper inflation. If your car has a tire pressure monitoring system respond to alerts immediately. You may be low or have a flat. Also, rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles to ensure even wear.
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- Slowing down: Your tires are more likely to stay in contact with the road if you adjust your speed to the weather. Turn off your cruise control, and avoid speeding through puddles.
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- Following tire tracks: If you see tire tracks from other cars, use them and avoid water.
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- Avoid quick actions: Avoid quick braking or steering unless you need to dodge a possible accident. Doing so can cause you to lose control and crash into another car.
If you’ve been injured as a result of a hydroplaning accident, an experienced lawyer can help you recover your property damage and medical expenses. Call the trustworthy car accident attorneys at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh in Braden ton, FL for a free consultation.