How Do Wet Roads During the Rainy Season Increase Car Accidents?

August 13, 2025

Dennis Hernandez

The rainy season in Florida creates many hazardous conditions. Frequent thunderstorms and flash floods make roads very slippery. This leads to an increase in motor vehicle accidents. Individuals must manage their vehicles while facing sudden rain showers, reduced visibility, and hazardous, slippery road conditions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that weather-related vehicle crashes make up 21% of all accidents in the United States with 70% of these incidents occurring on wet road surfaces.

Heavy rain causes Florida roads to become rapidly waterlogged mainly in locations that lack proper drainage systems. When driving on wet roads, tires can lose contact with the road. This creates conditions for hydroplaning, leading to a complete loss of steering or braking control. Hydroplaning incidents make it difficult for skilled drivers to prevent accidents from occurring.

The personal injury attorneys at Dennis Hernandez Injury Attorneys understand how wet roads create challenging situations in injury lawsuits. We fight to get you paid!

Why Do Rainy Conditions Complicate Personal Injury Claims?

Wet roads do not excuse drivers from their duty of care responsibility. Insurance companies frequently defend themselves by arguing that weather conditions caused the accident instead of driver mistakes. Insurance companies employ this defense tactic to minimize or completely block injury compensation for victims. A car accident attorney with knowledge will play an essential role in your case.

Florida law requires drivers to operate their vehicles according to road and weather conditions through Florida Statutes §316.185. The law requires drivers to slow down their speed when weather conditions or road conditions become dangerous. A driver who does not reduce their speed when necessary might be considered negligent.

A skilled accident lawyer uses powerful proof to show that the other party operated without proper caution. The legal team that handles car accident claims near you will find the negligence caused by speeding, distractions, or poor tire and brake maintenance.

What Role Does Hydroplaning Play in Rainy Season Collisions?

The main reason why car accidents occur during heavy rain is because of hydroplaning. The formation of water between tires and road surface causes tires to lose contact with the surface. Hydroplaning can happen at low speeds, starting at 35 mph. This is more likely if tires are worn or underinflated. In severe cases, it leads to multi-vehicle pileups.

A pedestrian together with another driver involved in hydroplaning crashes may fail to determine who should bear liability. A qualified lawyer who specializes in car accident injuries can investigate tire conditions, speed, and roadway conditions. This helps establish legal responsibility.

How Does Rain Impact Road Infrastructure and Visibility?

The formation of slick roads during rainstorms simultaneously damages the overall road infrastructure. The rainy season makes potholes more dangerous for drivers because they appear unexpectedly. The combination of water accumulation and faulty traffic signals creates hazardous conditions.

The amount of visible details becomes significantly reduced when it rains. The reflection of headlights off wet pavement causes windshield fogging which blocks the visibility of road signs. Florida law mandates that drivers must use headlights during rain, as stated in §316.217(1). However, many drivers often disregard this rule. The combination of these weather conditions and driver inattention often leads to accidents. In such cases, it is essential to have an auto accident attorney who can demonstrate the direct cause.

What Precautions Should Drivers Take to Maintain Their Safety While Driving in Heavy Rain Conditions?

Proactive actions must be taken by drivers when they encounter wet road conditions. Here are some strategies:

Driving at reduced speeds provides better control when navigating slippery road surfaces.
Leave enough space between vehicles since this enables you to react properly.
Check your tires: Good tread and proper inflation are essential for preventing skids.
Use headlights: Not only is it safer, it’s the law.
Avoid cruise control: Sudden traction loss may cause delayed braking or acceleration.

Motorists should implement these precautions but most people choose to ignore them. The identification of negligent behavior requires a traffic accident attorney from your local area after an accident occurs.

What Evidence Is Crucial for a Personal Injury Claim After a Rainy Season Accident?

The process of establishing negligence during rainy season car accidents becomes more complicated yet still remains possible to achieve. Your car collision lawyers near me need to obtain the following evidence:

Photos and videos of the scene, especially showing water accumulation
Witness statements confirming behavior of other drivers
Police reports, which often describe weather conditions and contributing factors
Vehicle maintenance records, including tire and brake condition
Traffic camera footage, if available

Accident attorneys need to work with meteorology experts together with accident reconstruction specialists when handling complex weather-dependent claims. Your accident attorney must have access to resources and knowledge about legal processes. This ensures they can follow every potential lead.

How Are Insurance Companies Likely to Respond?

The insurance adjusters will use “act of God” as a defense to claim that the rainy conditions were unpreventable. The defense approach typically becomes ineffective when a qualified personal injury attorney demonstrates concrete evidence about dangerous driving actions. Insurance companies often attempt to lower payment amounts. They do this by questioning the severity of injuries and the need for medical treatment.

A lawyer who specializes in car accidents near you will guide you through all settlement discussions. A victim with proper legal representation will receive fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional distress.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Rain-Related Accident?

The victims of rain-caused automobile accidents have rights to obtain both financial compensation and compensation for intangible harms. An experienced auto accident attorney can assist you to pursue the following compensation:

Medical expenses (hospital stays, therapy, medication)
Lost income and future earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Loss of enjoyment of life
Vehicle repairs or replacement

The court awards punitive damages when drivers show dangerous negligence. This includes racing in rainstorms or driving while intoxicated. A qualified personal injury lawyer needs to assess whether punitive damages should be pursued.

When Should You Contact a Personal Injury Attorney?

The sooner, the better. Skid marks and debris vanish rapidly from the scene after a crash because water erases them. A personal accident lawyer who contacts you immediately will protect valuable documentation that needs timely preservation.

Since our founding, Dennis Hernandez Injury Attorneys have secured millions of dollars for victims harmed by negligent drivers. Our legal team has significant experience with poor weather accident injury claims. We fight to get you paid!

What Legal Rights Do You Have as an Injured Driver or Passenger?

Individuals who are injured in car accidents have the right to seek compensation. This is governed by Florida’s comparative negligence laws. You can find these laws in the Florida Statutes, specifically sections §768.81 to §768.31. You can still receive compensation even if you share some responsibility for the accident. Your damages will be based on your percentage of fault. It becomes especially important during rainy season because multiple contributing elements tend to be present.

A consultation with a local car accident attorney will help determine your available choices. Most personal injury attorneys provide complimentary consultations for clients who are unsure about their case.

What Emergency Procedures Should You Perform Following a Motor Vehicle Accident During Rainy Weather?

Check for injuries and call 911
Move to a safe location, if possible
Exchange contact and insurance information
Document the scene with photos and notes
Get medical evaluation, even if you feel fine
Contact a personal injury attorney

Your health safety and legal standing receive protection from immediate action. Delayed response allows evidence to disappear and reduces the strength of your claim.

How Can Dennis Hernandez Injury Attorneys Help You?

The success of our firm relies on our skill in managing complex injury cases. These often involve poor weather and road hazards. We possess all necessary legal instruments to develop successful strategies for cases with multiple vehicles and pedestrian accidents and hydroplaning-related losses.

We possess the expertise to confront insurance companies effectively. Additionally, we have a comprehensive understanding of the psychological and economic impacts that arise from these incidents. We aim to eliminate your problems while achieving the highest possible payment amount for you.

We fight to get you paid!