Wet Road Accidents

Weather may have a huge impact on driving and the risk of accidents. In Southern California, it does not rain very often, which means that drivers are often unprepared for a wet road. This means that they may not drive defensively, and they may not maintain the usual efforts that drivers must maintain in order to prevent a wet road accident from happening. In fact, car crashes increase when there is wet weather in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. If you have been injured in this situation, the Los Angeles car accident attorneys at Sharifi Firm may be able to help you recover damages.

There are several ways that a wet road accident may occur in Southern California. Rain on roads after a long dry period may dislodge oil and other materials that have built up on the surface, making the concrete or asphalt more slick than it would otherwise be. Moreover, treads on car tires lose traction if there is enough water on the road, increasing the risk of hydroplaning, particularly on a freeway. Many drivers are unfamiliar with what to do in the case of hydroplaning. Other times, it is not the wet road that causes the accident but instead poor visibility resulting from the rain or another source of water.

Every driver in California owes a duty to others on the road to drive safely, no matter the weather or road conditions. To hold a driver liable for negligence after a wet road accident, you will need to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the driver had a duty of care, the driver breached the duty, the breach caused an accident, and you sustained actual damages. If drivers fail to slow down at the possibility of a slick road or react poorly to hydroplaning, they may be considered negligent.

Often, wet road accidents are caused by a combination of several driver errors. For example, a driver may be forced to stop suddenly because another car hydroplaned. A car that was following too closely may need to brake suddenly. Liability may be split among multiple drivers whose errors combine to produce injuries in a wet road accident.

In California, the doctrine of joint and several liability applies to economic damages like medical bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and other concrete losses. This means that one defendant in a group of liable defendants may be held responsible for the total economic losses, even if that particular defendant was only partly at fault for the accident. The rationale behind this rule is that any defendant that contributed to a crash should pay for a victim’s tangible losses. However, each defendant is only severally responsible for his or her share of noneconomic damages, like pain and suffering or mental anguish.

Serious injuries may arise out of a wet road accident in Southern California. It is important to take the time that you need to obtain medical care and recover, knowing that an experienced attorney is handling your case. At Sharifi Firm, APC, our Los Angeles lawyers may be able to help you recover compensation. We have a firm understanding of the insurance system and the trial experience necessary to conduct productive negotiations with the other side. Contact us at (866) 422-7222 or via our online form to set up a free appointment with a motor vehicle collision attorney. Our firm also represents victims in Temecula, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino, and Riverside, among other cities.