See this? The driver was driving in California during a rain storm and lost control of his Porsche 911.
He started to hydroplane, slid across 4 lanes of traffic, bouncing off everything in his way until he came to a stop almost 50 yards away from where he first lost control.
Emergency personnel still had to cut him out of this wreckage, and peel the top off like a tin can, but the driver managed to walk away with only a few broken bones, and damage expenses that were all covered by his insurance.
Also known as aquaplaning or just plain “planning”, Hydroplaning Accidents are caused when there is a thin layer of water between the surface of the tire, and the surface of the road. Because there is no real traction, it is way too easy for drivers of motor vehicles to start to loose control of their vehicle under these conditions. If you are in heavy traffic the results can be disastrous. The only way to regain control is to pump the brakes and hope your tires regain some friction before you collide with something else.
Depending on the size of the vehicle, resulting damages can be minimal to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Usually, the drivers insurance will cover these costs, but if the damage was to a person, the liability can be life changing for everyone involved. In this case, this California driver was acquitted of his charges because his lawyer was able to prove that the tires, unbeknownst to the driver, were “track tires”, and not suited for highway driving. Hydro planning alone is not reason enough to prove your innocence, since it is well known that drivers need to slow down in bad weather, this driver knew that without good representation his damages could have been a lot worse.
Severe or unusual weather, speeding, poor visibility, an overloaded vehicle, worn out or under-inflated tires, any of these things can contribute to an accident. Nobody plans for one, they usually result from a series of negative conditions that converge into one split second of time, and we can only hope that we are in the middle of it when it happens.
The next time you find your self in one of these situations, remember this Porsche 911 and slow down. Even if you did not cause the accident, if you find yourself in one, make sure you find a competent attorney who will look out for your best interests. Call Ledger Law Firm to find out more about what choices you have. 800-300-0001.
