How To Avoid A Car Accident In The Washington DC Metro Area On Oily Roads In The Rain
As residents of D.C.,
Maryland and Virginia know well,
the early summer months in our area are characterized by a mixture of sudden
thunderstorms and intense sunshine. Although the dangers of winter driving are
over, summer weather has its own risks and challenges. It seems obvious that
rain would contribute to perilous spring and summer driving conditions – hours
of rain can flood the roads, and any storm makes it difficult to see. But after
years of handling car accident cases, personal injury attorneys know that the
real danger is in the first few minutes after rain has hit the road.
Over time, roads build up a layer of detritus on the surface
– a combination of dirt and oil from cars and from new asphalt. When it begins
to rain, the oil that has been soaked up by the road starts to wash out. The
rain brings the oil to the surface where it sits on top of the water, creating
incredibly slick conditions. After a long period of dry weather has allowed
large amounts of oil to bake into the road, it will take even longer for the
oil to be washed away – so use extra caution when you know it has not rained
recently. Oil buildup tends to be worst at intersections, where cars are frequently
stopped and oil can puddle on the road. As the rain continues, the oil gets
washed off the surface and the road becomes less slick. However, don’t forget
that the longer it rains, the more water accumulates on the road. The oil may
be gone but it is still easy to hydroplane. Many car accidents are caused by
unsafe driving in wet conditions – an estimated 10% of the car accidents that
result in injury happen during rainy weather.
If you are driving when rain starts falling, remember to be
especially attentive. Slick roads mean that it will be more difficult to slow
down, so you will need to apply your brakes sooner than usual when coming to a
stop. Give extra distance behind other cars to avoid rear end collisions. And if you have been involved in a car
accident, call the experienced Washington DC personal injury attorneys at Cohen & Cohen,
P.C. to discuss your case.
Wayne Cohen is a trial lawyer. He also currently serves as an adjunct law professor at the George Washington University School of Law.
