As we head into the winter season, Texas will experience several days of wet weather. With wet pavement contributing to approximately 1.2 million collisions every year, it is important to exercise extreme caution while driving in the rain in order to avoid losing control of your vehicle. We at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs have put together a short list of tips to remind drivers how to stay safe while driving in the rain.
Consider these safety tips before driving in wet conditions:
- Avoid using cruise control. Cruise control is a handy tool in dry weather, but it can be deadly in the rain because it increases the chance of losing control of your vehicle. Ordinarily, the driver can let up on the accelerator to prevent a loss of traction in the rain, but if the cruise control is engaged, this is not a possibility. Avoiding cruise control will give you more options and greater control over a situation involving loss of traction.
- Slow down and leave a wide following distance. It is always important not to follow the car in front of you too closely, but this is especially important in the rain. Allowing yourself a little extra room will give you more space to brake safely without skidding or slipping. Also, reducing your speed in wet conditions decreases your chance of hydroplaning, when tires rise up from the road on a film of water.
- Know what to do if your car begins to skid. Even the most cautious drivers may experience a skid in the rain. If this happens, it is important to remain calm and to continue steering the vehicle in the direction you want it to go. You will also want to avoid slamming on the brakes, as this will further disrupt the car’s balance and make it even more difficult to control.
Although the weather may be a contributing factor in a car accident, drivers are still ultimately responsible for maintaining control of their vehicles. Those who drive in a manner which is unsafe for current driving conditions can still be held liable in the event that they injure or kill someone in an accident.
If you or a family member have been injured in a car accident, you may be able to pursue compensation by filing a personal injury claim. Consult with an award winning Houston car accident lawyer at Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs for free to discuss the particulars of your accident and determine what legal options are available to you. Serving clients in Houston, Galveston, South Texas, and Louisiana, we have taken on a wide variety of personal injury cases and maintained a substantial track record of success. Members of our team have achieved Board Certification in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, so you can be confident that we have what it takes to achieve superior results.
To find out if you have a case, reach out to our firm today by calling (713) 489-6566.
