Did you know that precipitation events (such as rain) cause more fatal accidents in the United States than any other factor? Its the leading cause of accidental death in the United States and more than 33,000 each year are killed due to motor vehicle accidents that occur in the rain. In comparison, drunk driving is only responsible for 10,500 fatalities a year.
How Does Light Rain Increases Risk of Traffic Fatalities?
A new study from the North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies found that even light rain increased the likelihood of fatal car accidents by 27%. Moderate rain and precipitation increased the chances of a car accident fatality by 34%.
The study examined more than 125,000 fatal accidents across the United States between 2006 and 2011. They also looked at weather patterns during the times and locations of the crashes. Researchers also used high-resolution radar data analysis to accurately determine the exact types of weather patterns. When they cross-checked the data, they were able to see how rain actually affected car accident fatalities.
While most people understand the dangers of moderate or severe rain, many drivers don’t understand how dangerous light rain or drizzle can be.
The problem with light rain is that people aren’t very cautious when driving through it. After all, they can typically see fine while they’re driving and the weather doesn’t appear worrisome. While drivers are more inclined to slow down and use extra caution in heavy rain, they often drive normally in light rain.
Where was the risk the highest? The Northern Rockies had the highest risk of fatal car accidents due to precipitation events. In the Northern Rockies, the risk of getting into a fatal accident caused by precipitation was highest likely because of the high amounts of snowfall the area receives every single year.
Drivers in the Northeast had the lowest risk. Experts suspect that drivers in the Northeast had a lower risk simply because there are more urban areas which prevent drivers from reaching high speeds.
Rain Can Complicate Your Case; We Can Help
Unfortunately, rain can complicate your car accident case. When precipitation is present, this can result in both parties pointing the blame at each other for the accident. As such, a Northern Colorado car accident attorney is necessary to help sort out weather-related crashes and clearly establish who is liable for the crash and the injuries that were sustained.
At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., our committed Northern Colorado car accident lawyers are dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves justice. Contact us at (303) 423-1770 or (866) 385-3505.
Our car accident lawyers have extensive experience representing injured accident victims in Broomfield, Arvada, Superior, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, Longmont, and throughout Colorado.
