Motorists should follow the rules of the road every time they drive, and this includes obeying the speed limit. When bad weather sets in, however, the rules can change.
Unfortunately, car accidents involving bad weather in Albuquerque are not uncommon. If another driver’s negligence caused a bad weather accident in which you sustained injuries, an experienced car accident attorney at NMAF is here to help.
The weather can have an immense impact on the road and our ability to drive safely. Rain, snow, and ice all reduce traction and greatly increase the chances of a car accident occurring. In fact, all of the following weather conditions can make roadways more dangerous:
Bad weather in Albuquerque creates dangerous driving conditions, and as motorists, we have a duty to adapt our driving so that we do not cause a car accident.
Speed limits are set for ideal driving conditions, which means they do not account for bad weather. The most important thing Albuquerque motorists can do to avoid an accident in bad weather is to slow down. Even in relatively small puddles of water on the road, oils and other fluids left by traffic rise to the surface, creating slippery conditions. With the resulting reduced traction, the only safe response is to reduce driving speed.
Hydroplaning happens when a vehicle drives through water and its tires lose all traction with the road. Ultimately, the tires are unable to displace the water quickly enough to maintain contact with the road. The risk of hydroplaning is even greater in light rain because it does not effectively wash away the oils that rise to the surface of puddles on the road.
The more dangerous the weather condition, the more significant a driver’s reduction in speed should be. In some conditions, such as when roads are icy and visibility is low, the only safe option is to carefully exit the roadway and wait for the weather to improve.
Drivers who do not slow down in bad weather make the road more dangerous for everyone around them. The notion of speeding through bad weather in pursuit of better driving conditions ahead is an idea that can prove deadly.
Any moisture on the road can significantly increase stopping distances, and stopping distances also increase with speed. Tailgating under slippery conditions is incredibly dangerous, as is failing to leave ample room between vehicles when visibility is low. To safely come to a stop in bad weather and avoid a crash, a driver should decelerate sooner and make sure to leave adequate space between their vehicle and the one in front of them.
Car accidents involving bad weather in Albuquerque are extremely dangerous. If you sustained injuries as a result of another motorist’s failure to respond to bad weather safely, a dedicated car accident attorney at NMAF could support you in your journey to recovery. To learn more, contact us online or give our firm a call today.
