When most drivers are asked what to look out for on rainy days, the common response is “slippery roads.”  However, our automobile accident attorneys at our firm believe driving while it is raining presents many more fatal dangers.  Some people might decide to just wait the rain out before heading out. But there are people who still have to get to work, and there are those who get caught on the road when it starts raining.

As car accident attorneys, our primary concern lies within the safety of all the drivers on the road, rain or shine.  So here are a few tips that could prevent an automobile accident in the rain.

1.  Drive slower.  This may seem obvious, but it is very important to not speed.

Driving slower should allow for better traction.  The other point some people miss is that driver perception is decreased, so driving slower allows for better reaction time.

Rainwater causes all the grease and engine oil on the road to surface, causing tires to lose traction on the road, especially right after it rains.

2.  Keep your eyes on the car ahead of you.  Our car accident lawyers know that when it is raining, it is often hard to see far ahead of you.  On a clear sunny day, you can see the automobile traffic situation a couple hundred feet down the road and react accordingly.  On a rainy day, what you often have to rely on is the reaction of the motor vehicle driver in front of you.  When he brakes, you brake.  You would, however, want to keep a certain distance from the car in front, because braking happens more slowly on a slippery road.  So, stay far from the driver in front, but close enough to keep him in clear sight.

3.  Do not brake suddenly.  Sudden braking may cause a skid.  Our car accident lawyers see this all of the time.  Since the roads are slippery, stopping the wheels too quickly may cause them to lose all traction with the road, and therefore cause skidding.  Skidding is extremely dangerous, as the automobile driver loses control of the car, and an imminent car crash becomes a possibility.  In the case skidding occurs, however, remain calm and do not make sudden turns.  Sudden turning may turn the skidding even more dangerous.  Just slow down, and try steering straight until you feel the car regain traction.

4.  Defog the windows.  As it rains, the windows on a car start to fog up, and that further limits driver perception/awareness.  Some automobile drivers may think that the car is cold because of the rain, and therefore turn on the heater.  The truth is, that only further fogs up the windows.  To defog, keep AC blowing at the windows, both windshield and in the back.  And if your car has a defog function, just press the button, and defogging should start automatically.

5.  Try to stay out of the water.  Most roads are built so that the middle of the road is higher than the sides, so try staying near the middle where it would be less likely to have a buildup of rainwater.  And no, cars do not have the capability of SUVs presented in commercials, driving through the ocean floor, or having a firm grip in tire deep water.  Stay away from pools of water, and in case you do go through one, tap the brake pedal lightly to dry the tire off a little.

Ideally, many car accidents in the rain may be prevented if people stopped driving when it rains, but that is an unrealistic assumption.  Our car accident lawyers have witnessed some terrible accidents which we believe would not have happened if it had not been raining.

Everyone has things they must attend to, so just keep these tips in mind when driving in the rain.  And in the case that it is raining too hard, and you cannot see more than a few feet in front of you, pull over to the side and wait the rain out.  It is too dangerous.  There many cases where nothing can make up for the personal injuries or for the loss of loved ones, so just wait the rain out.  Nothing can compare in importance to the safety of the automobile’s driver, and that includes purchasing the best car insurance policy.

Call us now at 1-858-551-2090 or click here for a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney and find out how we can help you.  We speak English and Spanish, and we look forward to providing advice for your case.  No fee if no recovery.