Hydroplaning, where a motor vehicle slides or skids out of control on a wet road surface, is a frightening experience for a driver. Whether you get involved in an accident while your vehicle is hydroplaning or another driver slides into your car on wet roads in Orange County, it is important to understand your legal rights in terms of seeking financial compensation. Speak with our Orange County auto accident lawyer to discuss your case’s specifics.
What Is a Hydroplane Accident?
A hydroplane accident describes a motor vehicle crash that occurs when a vehicle hits standing water on the road, resulting in the tires losing traction or connection with the pavement. When a thin layer of water stands between a tire and the road surface, the vehicle may no longer be within the control of the driver – making it impossible to stop the car or steer. Hydroplane accidents can describe single-vehicle crashes where a car skids into a fixed object or multiple-vehicle collisions where one of the drivers strikes others. These accidents are most common when the roads in Orange County are wet due to rain or standing water. Traveling at a high speed and on worn-out tires can also increase the risk of hydroplaning.
Can I Hold Someone Responsible for a Hydroplane Accident in Orange County?
When a motor vehicle hydroplanes, it can result in serious accidents such as single-car crashes, vehicle rollovers, cross-lane accidents, head-on collisions, rear-end collisions and multi-car pileups. Determining who is liable, or legally responsible, for this type of crash takes understanding the cause of the accident. If you were not the hydroplaning driver, the person who lost vehicle control due to standing water and struck you could be held liable for your property damage repairs and medical bills. This is because California is a fault state, where the party at fault for a motor vehicle accident is held liable. The driver of the car that hydroplaned is not always the sole liable party, however. It may be possible to hold a vehicle manufacturer accountable if a tire defect contributed to the crash. Another possibility is the city or state government for poor road design or a lack of drainage that resulted in the standing water.
What to Do After a Hydroplane Accident in Orange County
If you get involved in a car accident in Orange County involving hydroplaning, try to remain calm and remember to take the following steps to protect yourself:
- Pull over as close to the scene of the crash as possible. Put your hazard lights on.
- Check yourself, your passengers and people in the other car for signs of injury.
- Call 911 to report the accident and request paramedics for anyone who has been injured.
- Exchange information with the other driver, but don’t admit fault.
- Take pictures of the crash scene, including photos of the wet road.
- Be sure to capture images of the vehicle that hydroplaned and its tires.
- Talk to eyewitnesses and write down their contact information.
- Call your own car insurance company to report the accident.
- Contact the other driver’s car insurer to file a claim if you believe they are responsible.
- Consult with an attorney about your legal rights, including the possibility of holding a third party liable.
Recovering financially from a hydroplane accident is easier with help from a qualified personal injury lawyer in Orange County. You can count on a lawyer to protect your legal rights and work hard to maximize your financial outcome for a hydroplane accident case. For a free hydroplane accident case review with a local lawyer, contact Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian.