Hydroplaning, sometimes known as aquaplaning, can be nerve-wracking. The phenomenon occurs when the tires of a motor vehicle lose touch with the surface of the road. This can happen in any car, truck or motorcycle, and can lead to potentially deadly hydroplaning accidents.
Injuries in a hydroplaning crash can be devastating as most drivers often lose control of their vehicles during this phenomenon.
Have you or someone you love been hit by a vehicle that was hydroplaning?
If you have been injured or suffered the loss of a loved one because of hydroplaning, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional distress and more. The experienced car accident lawyers of O’Connor, Acciani & Levy have the expertise and passion to pursue justice on your behalf.
How Hydroplaning Occurs
When a vehicles tires come upon excess water that cant be displaced the tires, the pressure created by the water forces the layer of water beneath the tires, causing the vehicle to drive on this thin, slippery layer rather than the roads surface. Essentially, when a vehicle hydroplanes, it is separated from the pavement. There is no traction. Steering, braking and controlling the vehicle become impossible for the driver.
Hydroplaning can happen in any circumstance where a vehicle encounters too much water; however, some factors may increase the risk for a vehicle to hydroplane:
- Improperly inflated tires
- Inefficient drainage
- Poorly designed roads
- Speeding
- Water pooling on road surfaces
If a driver loses control of the vehicle while hydroplaning occurs, the automobile can collide with other cars on the road or careen off the road into any number of obstacles. Rear-end collisions are common types of hydroplaning accidents. Because of the tendency for a vehicle to completely spin out of control due to the lack of traction, any type of accident imaginable could result.
Preventing Hydroplaning
Poor weather conditions may not be the only cause of a hydroplaning collision. A drivers negligence may also be at fault in causing an automobile to hydroplane. If this has happened to you, an attorney can help to defend your rights and pursue compensation.
Follow these tips to avoid a hydroplaning crash:
- Avoid puddles and standing water
- Avoid sudden or sharp turns
- Do not use cruise control on slick roads
- Follow the tire tracks of the vehicle you are following
- Keep tires properly inflated
- Replace tires regularly
- Rotate tires regularly
- Slow down and keep proper following distance
- Stick to center lanes
If driving safely in wet conditions, it is possible to avoid hydroplaning using the tips above. Read on to learn how to avoid an accident and keep control of your car in the event you begin to hydroplane.
Avoiding A Hydroplaning Accident
If you find yourself hydroplaning, these tips will help you to maintain control of your car and possibly avoid a collision:
- Do not panic
- Ease your foot off the gas pedal
- Steer your vehicle straight or along the roads path
- If necessary, gently steer back and forth until the vehicle is straight
- DO NOT slam the brakes this can cause a complete loss of control over the vehicle
- Only brake gently when necessary, otherwise allow the vehicle to decelerate by avoiding the gas pedal
If another motorist was the cause for a hydroplaning crash that you were involved in, you may have grounds for legal action. In some cases, if the local municipality was responsible for maintenance that was not properly performed, or the road was designed poorly, a victim could potentially bring suit against the agency responsible. If your tire pressure is monitored by a professional mechanic and your tires are found to have been improperly inflated, the mechanic may be liable for negligence. If another vehicle was speeding and caused the collision, that vehicles driver would be considered responsible.
Need Legal Advice? Contact Our Attorneys Today
If you or someone you love was injured because of hydroplaning, now is the time to act. There is a short window during which you can make a claim against the negligent parties involved in your accident, and you should seek counsel from a qualified attorney to begin building your case.
The injury attorneys at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy have experience in numerous cases that involved a hydroplaning vehicle in the Ohio River Valley area. We proudly provide comprehensive legal services to residents in Ohio nd are ready to help you today.
Find out what it means to have O’Connor, Acciani & Levy on your side.