Hydroplaning

Road accidents can happen for many reasons, whether the driver’s fault or environmental elements that make driving difficult.

The weather makes it more challenging.  Poor weather conditions can heighten the risk of motor vehicle accidents. For instance, heavy rains can obscure the drivers’ vision. It can also make the roads wet and slippery. There is an increased likelihood of skidding or hydroplaning accidents in these circumstances.  

What Is Hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning is the loss of contact with a road’s surface due to the thin water layer on wet roads. This moisture on the road’s surface reduces the tire’s tread and dramatically increases the likelihood of a hydroplaning accident.

In any rainy weather condition, hydroplaning can occur. Whether it’s just light rain or heavy one, wet pavement can create a slippery surface. It gets worse when the rain gets mixed with an oily residue. As a result, the car tires lose traction and can skid uncontrollably. At high speeds, skidding can become dangerous, resulting in severe injury or death to the driver and passengers, and others nearby.

School of Thoughts

One of the legal issues involving hydroplaning or skidding accidents is: “Who is at fault.?”  There are two schools of thought when it comes to this.

First, there is the contention that since the rain caused it, which is a natural occurrence, it should not be anybody’s fault.

On the other hand, others contend that while rain is something beyond anybody’s control, the driver can control the speed and manner that he operates his motor vehicle. If he fails to slow down when he should have, considering the road conditions, he could be at fault for any accident he may have caused.

Did you know the likelihood of hydroplaning increases when the speed if over 35 miles per hour and the road surface is slippery? In the same way, the car is likely to skid if the tires do not have enough air or the tread is worn down.

A basic premise of California car accident law requires every driver to observe due care in operating his motor vehicle. Where the roads are slippery, the risk of skidding or hydroplaning is high. In adverse weather conditions, the driver must adjust his driving habits or alter his speed as needed.

What to Do When Your Car Begins to Hydroplane?

Don’t panic. If you are the driver, the vital thing to do is slow down your vehicle. That way, you get control of the situation. But don’t slam on the brakes. Instead, gradually lift your foot off the gas pedal and gently swerve to a safe side of the road away from the other vehicles.

If you are the passenger, gently tell your driver to slow down without slamming on the brakes. You can help him by watching out for the other cars while he tries to stay on the safe side of the road.

Hydroplaning Isn’t Always the Driver’s Fault.

Accidents can happen, and their likelihood increases on account of bad weather. But in the case of hydroplaning, it isn’t always the driver’s fault that the car accident occurred. There may be conditions beyond his control that increased the risk of skidding.

One of the common causes of hydroplaning is poor drainage, which causes the water to pool. Poor drainage is attributable to improper road construction or maintenance. As a result, the tires lose traction, which may ultimately lead to skidding.

Hydroplaning may also result from a collision. One car travels too fast and hits another vehicle, causing the latter to skid uncontrollably. In this case, the driver who bumped another is at fault and should be held liable for damages.

Have You Been Involved in a Hydroplaning Accident?

Did you suffer injuries as a result of a hydroplaning accident due to another person’s fault or negligence? Then you may recover compensation for damages. Talk to us. We can help you.