Recently, Southern California has received some much-needed rainfall. While this is good for our environment, it hasn’t been great for many San Fernando Valley drivers, who are not used to driving in the rain. Take, for example, the case of a local driver who crashed into a Burbank Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on Tuesday morning after losing control of her vehicle on the wet roads. The coffee shop was full of customers, but thankfully, no one was injured.
Rainy Weather Car Accident Statistics
According to the Federal Highway Administration, there are over 5,870,000 vehicle crashes each year across the country. 23% of these crashes – more than 1.3 million – are weather-related. The FHA defines weather-related crashes as “crashes that occur in adverse weather (i.e., rain, sleet, snow, fog, severe crosswinds, or blowing snow/sand/debris) or on slick pavement (i.e., wet pavement, snowy/slushy pavement, or icy pavement).” On average, 6,250 people are killed and over 480,000 people are injured in weather-related crashes each year.
Rain More Likely to Cause Auto Accidents than Snow
Not surprisingly, the “vast majority of most weather-related crashes happen on wet pavement and during rainfall.” Indeed, 74% occur on wet pavement and 46% during rainfall. This is a much higher percentage than even snowfall, which only causes about 17% of annual car accidents. The moral of this story? It can be dangerous to be on the San Fernando Valley roads during or after rainfall, as auto-related accidents are much more likely to take place.
In the story above, the car crash was supposedly the result of a driver driving too fast for the weather conditions. If you or a loved one was injured by a negligent driver, whether it was in rain or sun, you may be able to file an auto accident claim to recover financial damages for the injuries you suffered.
It’s the Holidays — Drive Safely
It is important for all San Fernando Valley drivers to drive extra cautiously while on the roads this holiday season. Many of us are in a rush trying to purchase holiday presents, prepare family meals, etc… Combined with rainy weather and slippery roads, this could be a recipe for disaster; i.e. serious car accidents. Whether you are driving on the 101 or down Ventura Boulevard, please remember to drive safely and follow the rules of the road.
Again, if you were injured in a car accident by a driver you believe was out of control, distracted, texting, or otherwise driving negligently, know that the law is on your side. You have legal rights and may be able to recover any financial loss you suffered as a result of the accident (in the form of medical bills, lost wages, etc…). For more information on how to file a timely car accident lawsuit, contact San Fernando Valley personal injury attorney Barry P. Goldberg today.
