Automobile Accident Attorney
West Palm Beach, Florida
Staying Safe on Wet Roads
A quarter of annual car accidents occur in rainy or wet weather. As a driver, it is important that you increase your safe driving habits in these conditions to avoid a motor vehicle accident. However, if you do become involved in an automobile crash, contact a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to discuss your case.
Prepare for wet weather
One of the most important things you can do is to annually change your windshield wiper blades, and perform quick, routine safety checks. Clear visibility through the use of effective wiper blades combined with a windshield treatment can dramatically improve your reaction time during inclement weather. By checking the following in your vehicle, you can also take a proactive approach to adverse weather:
- Lights
- Antifreeze
- Windshield washer fluid
- Wiper blades
Other things that can help keep you safe on wet roads include the following:
- Check your tires: Making sure that your tires are properly inflated and have sufficient tread can help keep you safe. Often times, drivers allow their tires to wear away and wait until the weather gets better to change them over. Tires with insufficient tread depth can significantly hinder stopping distance on slick roads.
- Slow down: The safest thing you can do to prevent an accident with another car, truck, or SUV during a rain storm is to go slow. By driving slowly, more of your tire’s tread makes contact with the road, providing you with better traction. If you drive at a steady pace and avoid jerky and abrupt maneuvers, you have a better chance of avoiding a collision.
- Keep a safe distance: By maintaining a safe distance from the car in front of you, you can better avoid a rear-end crash and whiplash injury. It takes as up to three times longer to stop on a slick road, even if your tires have sufficient tread. Remember to keep at least three car lengths from the vehicle in front of you. Always turn your headlights on so that other drivers can clearly see you and refrain from driving with cruise control.
- Do not drive if you are tired: If you are fatigued, find somewhere to pull over and rest. If you drive while tired you are not only endangering your own life, but also the lives of other drivers on the road, especially in inclement weather and on defective roadways.
If you do lose control of your vehicle:
- Never slam on the brakes
- Steer in the direction of the skid
- Apply the brakes in a firm, steady manner
- If your car has anti-lock brakes, apply more pressure to the brakes but be sure not to pump them
Hydroplaning happens when your tires glide across the surface of the water and do not actually contact the road. If you find yourself hydroplaning:
- Remove your foot from the gas, but do not slam on the brakes
- If your vehicle is manual, push down on the clutch and allow your vehicle to slow down by itself
- If your vehicle is automatic, hold the steering wheel steady and press the brakes lightly
If you are involved in a collision, please visit our page on what to do if you are involved in an accident. If you live in the West Palm Beach, Florida area and have been involved in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, please contact experienced Florida automobile accident lawyer Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. for a complimentary consultation.
OFFICE LOCATION: 2090 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. Suite 402
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
1-800-GOLD-LAW
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The reader’s understanding of the information on this website about auto accident law does not constitute a formal legal relationship with the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. Please do not assume this content to be formal legal advice. If you would like to know if you have a valid auto accident case, please contact a attorney in Palm Beach County at the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. today for a complimentary consultation regarding automobile accident law in Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Port St. Lucie and Palm Beach County, Florida.
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