With temperatures in the mid-90s and an average 12 days of rain forecast for the next few months, vehicle crashes are expected to rise in East Baton Rouge Parish.
Our area is the most populated in Louisiana; with more than 450,000 people in Baton Rouge, our highways are seriously over-crowded. Wet weather conditions will impact our roads in a variety of ways – most notably, visibility and pavement issues.
Inexperienced drivers
Wet weather conditions combined with young drivers who may lack experience can contribute to crashes that lead to serious injury and death. Based on the most recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, rainy or inclement weather contributes to more than one million crashes every year. The report concludes of those crashes, 6,000 people are killed and 445,000 are seriously injured nationwide.
Inexperienced drivers frequently miscalculate safe driving speeds in wet conditions, causing them to spin or skid. The most common type of crash in these conditions is a rear-end collision. Rear-end collisions often cause injuries like:
- Whiplash
- Spinal trauma
- Head injury
Foul conditions
Foul weather crashes are defined as accidents that occur due to adverse weather conditions. The following conditions create a higher risk for crashes:
- Rain
- High winds
- Vehicle performance issues, like poor tire traction on wet roads
- Pavement friction
- Impediments to traffic flow due to flooding
More than 70 percent of weather-related crashes occur on wet pavement. Road construction and road closings due to flooding impact drivers by decreasing road capacity and forcing new/changing traffic patterns.
After the crash
If you or a loved one has been injured or suffered property damage as a result of a bad weather crash, please call the law offices of Miller, Hampton & Hilgendorf immediately. We are dedicated to obtaining positive results and compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle repairs, property damage and emotional distress following car and truck accidents.
Our team of trained professionals has more than 30 years’ experience – and the expertise to litigate the most complex and personal injury cases. When you need answers, we are here to help.
Please contact us online, text or call 225-343-2205 to schedule a free case evaluation.
6 ways to avoid foul weather crashes
We recommend the following six tips to reduce the chance of a crash in inclement weather:
- Reduce Speed: make sure that your speed is adjusted to current road conditions
- Equipment check: evaluate and adjust your tire pressure, make sure your times have sufficient tread for road conditions
- Never use cruise control when it is raining or on wet pavement
- Avoid quick stops: cars skid on wet pavement, often leading to hydroplaning
- Align your wheels, drive in the tracks of the car in front of you to reduce the amount of water between the road and your tires
- No high beams: bright lights increase reflection and reduce visibility