Drivers who don’t adjust their speeds on rain-slicked roads must be held accountable for the collisions they cause. You can get hit on a rainy day and end up with major injuries, months’ worth of medical bills, and days of lost work and income.
Drivers and their car insurance providers are supposed to be financially liable, but they can find ways to blame Mother Nature, or even you, for a collision. To find out how to fight back and maximize your injury claim, take advantage of a free case consultation with Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield.
Dangers in Traffic on Rainy Days in Bakersfield
Bakersfield doesn’t get a lot of rain. But when drops do fall, they can cause major traffic hazards. Cars can slide in and out of lanes and have trouble stopping for red lights and stop signs.
It simply takes a little more caution to get through safely. However, sadly, some drivers don’t change their behavior when conditions call for it. They may continue in a rush or keep their cellphones in hand as they watch videos. These are dangerous practices when conditions are normal, but building water levels could make accident risks grow.
These are just a few of the reasons reckless drivers cause accidents when it rains:
Inexperience with Rain: Drivers in Bakersfield may not be used to driving in wet conditions. They might not realize the increased risk for a loss of control on rain-soaked lanes. They may fail to slow down, ignorant of the dangers.
Visibility Reduced: In hard rain, with fogged windshields, drivers can have a much harder time seeing vehicles that should have lights, and pedestrians who won’t have any lights to show where they are.
Less Time to Brake: Slamming the brakes is a bad idea on wet roads, but people not pay attention to the roads won’t be able to brake when they should and instead can slide into the rear-ends or sides of other cars. They may even slide through an intersection after hitting the brakes far too late.
Flooded Streets: Drivers can enter flooded streets and end up hydroplaning or even being carried away and into other vehicles. Always best to turn around rather than go through flood waters where the depth is unknown.
Hydroplaning: Even a thin layer of water can build up under the portion of the tire touching the pavement and cause a loss of control.
A University of Pittsburgh study explains that hydroplaning is a “when a layer of water builds up between the vehicle’s tires and the road surface, causing the loss of traction and possible control.” Their researchers also warn that all-wheel drive vehicles are more susceptible to a loss of control.
The University found that an average of 1 million U.S. accidents occur due to wet pavement each year.
The Speed Limit When It Rains in Bakersfield
Some drivers don’t realize that the speed limit posted on the signs above streets like Truxtun Avenue doesn’t always show the legal speed. It’s because the actual speed limit is known as something called “speeds safe for conditions.”
It means that every driver must adjust their speeds when conditions warrant it. Conditions can include road construction or wet roads in the lanes.
The standard is explained in California’s Vehicle Codes (CVC):
CVC 22350.
No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.
Drivers can be going the posted speed limit, but they could still be slapped with a ticket for speeding when weather conditions or other hazards mean they should have slowed down. They may also have to accept blame for any accidents caused.
A Bakersfield Police Officer would take this into account when going over just who was responsible for an accident. Mother nature’s actions are rarely an excuse, because drivers are required to slow down for conditions enough that they can always stop to avoid an impact.
How Can a Bakersfield Lawyer Help Me With My Rainy Day Accident Case?
Your Bakersfield car accident lawyer first focuses on making sure the blame for a stormy weather accident stays with the right party. Your lawyer would fully investigate what happened, talk to witnesses, and even use accident reconstruction teams to build evidence to show what occurred.
Once your case is backed with evidence, your attorney will file your claim for you, meeting all sneaky deadlines. At this point, your lawyer has your case in hand, allowing you to focus on healing.
Your attorney goes to the negotiating table to fight to get you the maximum possible for your injuries. Your accident settlement must include money to pay your current medical bills, and for any care you may need in the future. Your time lost while having to miss your shifts at work must be compensated.
Your emotional trauma from a frightening accident on a rainy day must also be factored in. This can include a difficult recovery from a serious injury and the loss of enjoyment of life it can cause.
Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers can often secure you much more for your damages than you could by taking on a giant insurance company yourself.
We Back Your Case with Powerful Evidence and Fight to Earn You More
If you have a serious injury, and a driver’s recklessness in the rain caused your accident, contact Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield to schedule a free consultation. It’s a confidential, no-obligation review of your case with a real Bakersfield car accident attorney.
Your full recovery becomes our number one mission. We don’t stop fighting until you are 100% healed and have the money you need to get back to your normal life.
If you end up needing our help to prove a driver was going too fast for conditions and caused your accident, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll afford a great lawyer. We don’t charge anything up front, and we only get paid if we win your case for you. Then our attorney’s fee comes out of the settlement check that an insurance company writes for you.
