If you have been driving a car that is hydroplaning, you know how frightening that can be. You feel helpless and have no control over the car. At Springer & Lyle, we want to provide you more information so you can understand the causes of hydroplaning and what to do if you are in an accident caused by another car that was hydroplaning.
What Causes Hydroplaning?
Hydroplaning occurs on wet pavement when too much water gets between the vehicle’s tires and the road. The tires lose traction and therefore lose contact with the road surface. The driver loses control of the car. Although many times, the loss of control is momentary, at other times, the hydroplaning causes:
- Loss of steering control.
- Loss of power control.
- Loss of brake control.
The loss of control is more dangerous when:
- The driver was driving at a speed greater than what is safe for the weather conditions.
- The tires are worn and don’t provide enough traction.
- The car is on cruise control.
- The loss of control causes the car to careen out of control and to crash into another vehicle or vehicles. Sometimes, there is a crash that only involves the hydroplaning vehicle.
Who is at Fault in an Accident Caused by Hydroplaning?
Every year, nearly 1 million accidents occur due to wet pavement. This results in 4,700 death and 384,000 injuries. If you were injured in an accident due to a hydroplaning vehicle, you must prove the driver was negligent in order to collect damages.
The driver may be at fault if the car was hydroplaning:
- Due to defective tires. This could mean the manufacturer of the tire is also responsible.
- Due to worn tires that should not have been on the road and the driver or car owner should have replaced them.
- The tires were over-inflated.
- The driver was speeding.
- The driver was following you too closely.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney for Assistance
If you were injured in an accident with a hydroplaning vehicle, the personal injury attorneys at Springer & Lyle can help you obtain the reasonable compensation you are entitled for your injuries, lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and any physical damage. Contact us at 940.387.0404 for a free consultation.
