Rain-Related Car Accidents in Los Angeles
While residents of Los Angeles typically don’t have to worry about rain, Southern California does see significant storms from time to time. Rain creates challenging road conditions for all drivers, but Los Angeles motorists who are not used to driving in wet conditions can be at an even higher risk of getting into related car accidents causing serious injuries.
What Are the Risks of Driving in the Rain?
Data collected by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration shows that “rain or mist” is the number one most dangerous type of road condition. From 2013 to 2022, 73 percent of motor vehicle crashes that occurred during adverse atmospheric conditions happened during periods of rain or mist.
Rain can have many adverse effects on road safety in Los Angeles, such as:
- Slick road surfaces
- Reduced tire traction and vehicle maneuverability
- Hydroplaning (loss of vehicle control)
- Reduced stopping distances
- Speed reductions
- Limited or low visibility
- Failing windshield wipers
- Storm debris in the road
- “Invisible” potholes filled with water
- High winds
- Flooding or landslides
In the five years from 2019 to 2023, 574,047 estimated car crashes occurred in the U.S. related to rain. The road is typically the slickest in the first 10 minutes of rainfall, as the water mixes with oil on the road. As the storm intensifies, additional risks such as loss of visibility and fallen limbs can arise.
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Who Is Liable for a Rain-Related Car Accident in Los Angeles?
Drivers in Los Angeles County must exercise due caution and care when traveling in rainy conditions to reduce the risk of automobile accidents. They should recognize the increased likelihood of a car accident and take proactive steps to improve safety, such as increasing their following distance, reducing speeds and being extra careful when switching lanes.
If a motor vehicle driver is negligent or does not act with proper care in poor weather conditions, he or she could be held liable or financially responsible for a related car accident. Even if the bad weather made the roads more dangerous than usual, a driver can be held accountable for negligent actions that increased the odds of a crash, such as speeding, following too closely or failing to make a safe lane change.
Since California is a fault-based car insurance state, the driver or party responsible for causing a car accident in the rain can be held liable, meaning his or her car insurance company will have to pay for the victim’s medical bills and property repairs. The plaintiff or filing party, however, will have to prove negligence.
How a Car Accident Attorney in Los Angeles Can Help
If you get hurt in a rain-related car or truck accident in Los Angeles, it can benefit you to hire a legal expert handling personal injury cases to guide you through the claims process. Insurance companies often try to avoid liability for collisions that occur in bad weather by blaming them on an “act of God.”
An attorney can help you gather evidence against another driver to prove that he or she was negligent in some way and did not drive safely and prudently based on weather and traffic conditions. This can make you eligible for financial compensation from the other driver’s insurance provider.To discuss a particular rain-related crash with an attorney in Los Angeles for free, contact Rose, Klein & Marias LLP to arrange a consultation.