This past week, the metro Atlanta area has been hard-hit by rain from the edges of Hurricane Melissa. Even when there’s not a hurricane, severe weather can create the perfect conditions for motor vehicle accident fatalities.
Common sense would dictate that extremely severe weather causes the greatest number of accidents, but data doesn’t back this up. In fact, among weather-related accidents, regular rainfall accounts for most accidents, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Among accidents from 2013-2022, 74% of accidents occurring during “adverse atmospheric conditions” occurred during rain. By comparison, freezing precipitation, such as snowfall or ice, accounted for 21%. Rainfall is so common, especially in the southeastern portion of the US, that we tend to discount how dangerous it can make driving conditions. A typical rainstorm reduces visibility, combines with oil to create slick roads, and can even cause standing water and flooding. Atlanta roads in particular are notorious for poor drainage, and a simple summer storm can cause flooding on surface streets within an hour. Standing water can cause a vehicle to hydroplane if the vehicle is driving more than 35 mph, a dangerous situation in which the driver loses control of the vehicle and cannot use the brakes. These conditions combine to cause often fatal and injurious accidents.
Take these precautions before you drive in the rain to reduce the risks:
- Check your tire tread using the “penny trick.” To check the depth of your tire’s tread, place a penny with the head of Lincoln pointed to the bottom. If none of his head is obscured, you need to have your tires checked and possibly replaced. Low tire tread is a risk factor for hydroplaning on wet roads.
- Inflate tires to the recommendation in your car’s owner manual. Under or over inflation can lead to hydroplaning.
- Check your lights and brake lights. The time to find out you have a light out is on a sunny day when it can be replaced, not when you’re driving in the rain.
Drivers caught in an unexpected rainstorm should do the following whenever possible:
- Remember to use lights, but not brights, which cause a hazard for other drivers during rain
- Reduce all distractions! It’s even more important during rain to keep your eyes and ears focused on the road. Other drivers may not act cautiously during adverse weather.
- Reduce your speed, even if you were previously going the speed limit. The speed limit is meant to be the maximum driving speed, and road conditions may warrant driving more slowly.
The Atlanta car accident lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to a lawyer at our firm, and discuss your legal options for a claim for damages. You may qualify for compensation that includes medical expenses, lost income and other forms of damages. Talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.