John D. Sloan Personal Injury Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Accidents Caused by Hydroplaning: Sometimes It's Not the Tires or the Rain

Monday, July 6, 2009 by John D. Sloan

Driver negligence, poor car maintenance, and adverse weather conditions are commonly thought to be the cause of most car accidents. But what about the road on which your car or motorcycle is traveling? You could be traveling at a safe speed, you could be fully alert, your car could be perfectly maintained, yet if the highway was constructed poorly an accident could still occur.

Poor road construction is one of the leading causes of hydroplaning, which occurs when a vehicle’s tires become separated from the roadway by a layer of liquid (usually water). When properly constructed, a road or highway will have its center at a higher angle than the sides, creating what is called a cross slope. This cross slope allows water to drain off the surface of the roadway. The recommended cross slope for highways is between 1.5% and 2%. Many roads, after years of wear, repaving and re-patching, and sometimes due to paving contractor or road engineer negligence, have 0.5% or even no cross slope. This leads to pooling water, which in turn can cause hydroplaning.

Hydroplaning is most common at speeds of over 45 MPH, on asphalt surfaces, and on heavily trafficked and worn roadways. To reduce the probability of hydroplaning, make sure your car or motorcycle’s tires are inflated to the recommended pressure, replace tires before the tread gets too low, and reduce your speed when driving in wet weather.

If you become involved in a car or motorcycle accident due to hydroplaning, calling a personal injury lawyer focused on hydroplaning accidents can help you get compensated properly for injuries, car repairs, medical bills and loss of income. Hydroplaning is a complex phenomenon, involving many factors. Proving your accident was a result of hydroplaning can be difficult, and having an experienced attorney on your team could help you with the resulting insurance claims and any other legal needs.

Posted at 14:50 PM

Topic: Personal Injury