Commuting to and from work is part of most people’s daily activities; in fact, workers in Georgia have one of the longest commuting times in the country, with an average of 28.4 minutes each way. All this time on the road leaves Georgia residents more vulnerable to car accidents; recent statistics show more than 1,720 drivers are involved in accidents daily! That’s around 70 car accidents per hour. And one of the top 10 leading causes of car accidents is bad weather. 

The fact is, bad weather increases the chances of a car accident, conditions such as fog, rain, and snow can hamper visibility and impact the performance of your vehicle. 

Types of “bad weather”

When someone says “bad weather,” what first comes to mind is snow, but there are more categories of bad weather that can affect driving.

• Black ice: When rain or snow freezes on the road, it creates black ice, patches of ice especially tricky to spot, hitting them can cause drivers to lose control of the vehicle in a matter of seconds.
• High winds: Strong winds can cause debris like tree branches to hit the car and also, make large vehicles harder to control and cause them to rollover. 
• Rain: From a light drizzle to pouring rain, any type of precipitation can be dangerous; it makes the road slick, especially during the first 10 minutes of rain.

You may think that snow and black ice are the leading causes of weather-related car crashes, but the truth is that rainy conditions and wet pavement take the lead on what causes the most weather-related accidents. 

Why is driving in the rain so dangerous?

• Poor visibility: Heavy rain causes diminished visibility, affecting the driver’s ability to see ahead for obstacles and other drivers. According to the FHWA, nearly 70% of weather-related crashes occur on wet pavement.
• Hydroplaning:  This occurs when the car’s tires don’t have proper traction due to wet road surfaces, which can cause drivers to spin and lose control of the vehicle. 
• Speeding: Drivers often fail to adjust their speed when it’s raining, often causing rear-ended accidents. 

How to prevent a weather-related car accident? 

The best way to prevent a weather-related car accident is to avoid driving in these conditions, which is often impossible for most drivers. So if you have to drive, slow down, pay attention to the road, and take additional precautions like:

• • Avoid braking suddenly: If you feel like your car is slipping, don’t brake; take your foot off the gas and turn the steering wheel in the direction you are skidding while gently tapping the brake pedal. This will likely straighten the path of the vehicle. 
  • Stay focused on the road: When weather conditions are hazardous, pay extra attention to the road ahead, and put away anything that might distract you, especially your phone. Other drivers or pedestrians could be stopped ahead, and you need extra time to brake, especially when the road is slippery. 
  • Slow down: There’s nothing worse you can do than speeding in bad weather; your safety is more important than getting home early. A slower pace allows you to brake if there are any obstacles in the road. 
  • Increase the distance between you and other vehicles: Double the distance between you and the car ahead, and avoid driving right next to another vehicle.
  • Keep your headlights on: Even if it’s daytime, having them on will increase visibility and allow other drivers to see you in the distance. If the weather worsens, consider turning on your hazard lights, especially if you are slowing down. 

• Stay calm: Driving in hazardous weather can be scary even for the most experienced drivers, you may feel extra nervous, but staying calm is key to making smart and safe decisions.

• Winterize your vehicle: If winter is approaching, make sure your tires and windshield wipers are in good condition, and replace them if necessary. 

Car accident injuries can sometimes be nearly fatal, requiring a hospital stay, long-term medical care, and physical rehabilitation, leading to substantial hospital bills, loss of wages, and more. If you are in this unfortunate situation, you could wonder if you can get financial compensation. If a faulty party is involved, you might be entitled to it, but when the weather plays a role in a car accident, figuring out who’s at fault can be very tricky. However, the driver that caused the accident could still be liable as there are preventative measures that could have been taken to avoid it. 

If you or a loved one are in this situation, reach out to an experienced attorney in Castan & Lecca that can assist you and figure out whether you are entitled to any type of compensation and how to handle this case.