When you think of Florida, you rarely think of snow or ice, which is fortunate for state drivers – icy roads can create dangerous driving conditions. However, the state is known for its rainy seasons. Wet and slippery roads provide opportunities for hydroplaning, which occurs when cars lose traction over wet surfaces and cause drivers to lose control. Hydroplaning often causes rollover accidents that can produce serious injuries for drivers and other surrounding cars. More than 5.7 million car crashes occur on roads and highways each year, and about 22% of those accidents are weather-related, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA).

Drivers need to be aware of the dangers slippery roads pose so they can act accordingly and know how to navigate the roads safely the next time they must drive in rainy weather.

Tips on Navigating Wet Driving Conditions

The best advice you can follow is to be prepared for your driving conditions. By checking conditions before you jump into your car, you have the time to plan out your route and make any necessary changes to adapt to the weather.

Ways drivers can be prepared for wet or slippery roads include:

  • Having good tires: It’s important to have your car regularly inspected in case your tires have worn down treads. The weaker your tire treads are, the more likely your car is to slide on wet surfaces.

  • Slowing down: When you encounter wet surfaces, the best way to proceed is by adjusting the speed of your car, as you’re more likely to lose control if you’re driving too fast. Be especially careful to slow down when making turns and going around curves.

  • Keeping more space around you on the road: By leaving extra space in front of you and behind you on the road, you have more time to brake and avoid causing a collision. When driving on slippery surfaces, it can take extra time for your car to come a stop.

What to Do When You Hydroplane

Even when you’re taking precautions to drive safely, sometimes hydroplaning is unavoidable. While it may be natural to want to panic when you begin to lose control of your car, reacting suddenly can make matters worse.

Tips on reacting to hydroplaning calmly and safely include:

  • Don’t slam on your brakes: Braking in general can cause a loss of control and slamming on them suddenly will almost guarantee your car to skid and possibly flip over, colliding with other cars in the process.

  • Release the accelerator: By simply releasing your foot from any pedals, you can allow your car to lose speed gradually and come to a complete and natural stop.

  • Do what you can to guide your car straight forward: Make gradual steering corrections to ensure your car is moving forward. Making any quick or sudden steering movements can cause your vehicle to swerve.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident due to driver negligence, don’t hesitate to call our car accident lawyers. Hydroplaning can create serious injuries that can be expensive to treat, especially if you’re losing wages from having to miss work. Our team can pursue compensation that you can use to pay off your debts.

Committed to Serving Our Community

At Frohlich, Gordon & Beason, P.A., our personal injury attorneys are proud to be community-oriented in all that we do, both on and off the clock. We all practice law because we’re all driven by the desire to help those in need – especially those who have been harmed due to negligence. From the moment you meet one of our lawyers, you’ll see that we don’t consider you to be just another case number. We prioritize clear communication with clients and see each case as a unique situation that deserves to be treated with respect and an attention to detail. We know this may be a stressful time for you – we’re here as a shoulder to lean on.

Suffering from injuries after an accident can be a stressful and isolating experience, but with our personal injury attorneys at your side, you won’t be alone. Call Frohlich, Gordon & Beason, P.A. at (941) 979-9010 or contact us online for a free consultation today for compassionate service.