On Monday, September 3, South Florida was battered by heavy rain and winds due to Tropical Storm Gordon. The tropical storm formed near the Florida Keys early that morning and moved west-northwest into the southern area of the United States. The unfavorable weather conditions did more than close beaches on the holiday weekend. The increased the risk of flooding and made the roads particularly wet and dangerous. It is no surprise that on Sept. 3, Miami-Dade County had multiple car crashes, creating significant traffic delays and leading to at least one fatality. Around 10 a.m. on Labor Day, Alfredo Cobas, 47, lost control of his truck while traveling north on I-95. Cobas’ truck hit an inside wall and spun multiple times. He was ejected from the vehicle, and Miami Fire Rescue pronounced him dead at the scene. Two other crashes took place shortly after on the MacArthur Causeway and on I-395, near the Biscayne Boulevard ext. A few hours later, another collision occurred on I-95 headed north. Witnesses saw a vehicle stuck underneath a large tanker.
Driving in the rain with wet roads and reduced visibility requires extra care. When drivers fail to pay greater attention to the road and their actions, crashes occur. If you or a loved one were hurt in a car accident due to another driver’s negligence in the rain, do not hesitate to contact a Miami car accident attorney from Gerson & Schwartz P.A. at (305) 371-6000.
Rain Is the Deadliest Weather
In some areas of the U.S., drivers are used to driving in the rain, snow, sleet, fog, and other poor weather conditions. In the sunnier areas of the country, drivers are far less experienced in what to do when the roads are wet, slick, and icy. Yet across the U.S., no matter driver experience, rain is consistently the deadliest weather event.
Based on an analysis of federal crash data, rain caused more driving fatalities than snow in 39 of 50 states. The Auto Insurance Center compiled and analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They looked at crashes that occurred between 2009 and 2013. Rain was the deadliest weather event in Florida and the surrounding states. Also, fog was much more dangerous than snow in Florida and other southern states.
Tips for Driving in the Rain
When it comes to Florida drivers and weather, everyone on the road needs to be extra careful when it rains and is foggy. Without the necessary amount of caution, crashes like those that occurred on Labor Day are bound to lead to injuries and fatalities. Here are some tips for how to drive in the rain and avoid a crash:
- Slow down: You cannot drive the same speed as you would when the pavement is dry. Keep to the speed limit or possibly a few mph slower.
- Do not use cruise control: Putting on cruise control can be tempting when you are on the highway. However, when it is raining, you need to be in control of the vehicle at all times. Without cruise control, you can simply lift your foot off the accelerator to slow down instead of having to hit the brakes.
- Leave more room between cars: When the roads are wet, it can take you a greater amount of time and distance to stop. This makes it even more important that you keep a lot of room between the front of your vehicle and the backend of other cars.
- Do not slam on the brakes: Unless it is an absolute emergency, you want to avoid slamming on the brakes on wet pavement. This can send your car sliding across the road. If you feel your tires begin to skid, do not panic, hit the brakes, or over correct. Continue to steer where you wish to go and lift your foot from the accelerator.
- Check your tire pressure: Traction is essential when the roads are wet. Check that your tire pressure is not too high or low.
- Check your windshield wipers: If they are old, it is relatively cheap and easy to replace them yourself.
- Use your headlights: When it is raining, and visibility is low, turn on your headlights to improve the chance of other vehicles seeing you.
Were You in a Crash While it Was Raining?
If you were in a car accident during poor weather in Miami, and you are confident it was the other driver’s fault, call our Miami personally injury lawyers at Gerson & Schwartz P.A. at (877) 475-2905. We offer free case consultations.