Tampa Accidents Due to Bad Weather Conditions

Taking Weather Seriously: Common Sense Safe Driving Tips

Sometimes, in Tampa, there is a momentary downpour and a person doesn’t have much notice when severe weather strikes. Hail, lightning, blinding rain, fog and other weather phenomenon can come out of nowhere and make transportation dangerous and sometimes deadly.

For instance, in March 2017, a pilot was flying a small plane from Brooksville to Cedar Key with his fiance and 17-year-old son, when the plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, killing all onboard. National Transportation Safety Board investigators said it was cloudy over the accident site at the time of the crash. Clouds and fog extended from below 500 feet to about 4,000 feet, they reported, which likely contributed to the crash.

In another story, a truck driver going south on River Road in North Port, Florida hydroplaned, sliding into the northbound lane where he collided with an oncoming vehicle. The truck driver walked away uninjured, but the other driver suffered critical injuries.

To avoid tragic accidents like this and the many more that are reported every year, drivers are required to operate their vehicle in a reasonable manner that reduces the risk to themselves and others. Florida law requires operators to change their driving pattern based on weather conditions. Even though a driver may be operating under the guidelines of the speed limits set forth for a particular area, if weather conditions make that speed unsafe, that person may be liable for damages or injury caused by an accident.

The best safety advice for driving in bad weather is simple: don’t. Drivers should take note of weather conditions and be prepared to either delay their travel or operate their vehicle in a manner that will allow them to travel without putting themselves or others at risk.

However, Mother Nature is unpredictable, meaning sometimes there’s nothing you can do to avoid an oncoming storm. While there’s no way to guarantee avoiding a weather-related accident, you can—and should—take some proper precautions when driving on wet roads by following these three common sense safe driving tips:

• Slow down. Speeding is always a bad idea, but especially when the roads are wet and visibility is poor. You should allow more time to stop and distance yourself between your vehicle and the car in front of you. The speed limit is set for optimal driving conditions; it’s okay (even encouraged) to go slower when the weather is bad.
• Look out. If you’re driving during a storm, suddenly swerving at high speeds to avoid debris or an animal in the road can have disastrous consequences. Add to the fact that it can be more difficult to see debris when visibility is restricted due to rain or fog and you have a recipe for disaster. When roads are wet and visibility is low, keep your lights on, even in the middle of the day, to help illuminate what’s in front of you, and stay hyper alert.
• Remember maintenance. While vehicle maintenance isn’t something you can do during a sudden downpour, it is an important preventative step you can take to avoid poor weather-related accidents. For starters, make sure to replace your windshield wipers regularly. Wipers tend to wear out quickly in Florida due to regular use and intense sun. Also, keep an eye on your tires. Replace your tires when recommended to help avoid hydroplaning on old tires that have lost their tread.

If a driver starts to hydroplane, it’s important to stay calm, ease your foot off the gas pedal, steer towards an open space and slowly press the brake pedal. If necessary, pull over and wait for conditions to improve.

In the event of a hurricane, you should avoid driving period unless you’ve been instructed by authorities to evacuate or it’s absolutely necessary. In a flood, drive toward higher ground.

Determining Liability in Bad Weather Accidents

How do you tell who is at fault for a bad-weather accident? While you can’t sue Mother Nature, the key to establishing liability for a car accident in bad weather (as in all personal injury claims) is negligence. Were there any contributing factors to cause the accident such as malfunctioning headlights, a pothole or poor road conditions, a wandering pedestrian or stopped car, etc.?

Many single vehicle accidents are, in fact, caused by other drivers. Even if two cars don’t come into contact with each other, another person’s driving may cause a driver to have to maneuver their vehicle in a way that causes them to hit something else or careen off the road. In these cases, your personal injury attorney will work to determine whether someone other than you is liable for the accident and, if so, pursue damages from the responsible party.

Individuals injured in single-vehicle car accidents involving bad weather in Tampa have the right to recover for their medical bills, and they might have the right to recover their pain and suffering, lost wages, lost ability to earn income and potential consortium in the case of wrongful death.

Traffic cameras can capture evidence to be used when determining liability in car accidents where weather is a contributing factor in Tampa. There is also meteorological evidence that can be gathered at the local level. Oftentimes, when an accident occurs during severe weather, law enforcement that arrives at the scene will document it in their police report.