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.
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.
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.
At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., we are honored to help accident victims in their time of need, and take our responsibility as personal injury lawyers incredibly seriously. We know how important it is for victims to secure the full and fair compensation they need following a serious accident, and that is why we take a hands-on, personalized approach to every case we handle.
awarded to a woman who was a victim of a car crash. The woman was driving the highway when the other driver approaching from the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit her head on. She suffered multiple broken bones, including her hip, pelvis, leg, and right arm. She missed several years of work as a result of her injuries. Read More
awarded to a woman who was the victim of a t-bone car crash. The client suffered multiple injuries. The most significant of which was a head injury. While she was ultimately able to return to work on a part-time basis, Plaintiff was never able to return to work on a full-time basis. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who suffered a head injury. She slipped and fell in a slanted parking lot at her place of employment. Evidence demonstrated that the owner of the building had constructed a fence shading the parking lot such that ice was allowed to continuously accumulate during the winter months. Multiple people had fallen on the ice prior to the client’s fall. As a result of her injuries, Plaintiff was forced to take early retirement. Read More
awarded to a man whose vehicle was hit from behind by a semi. The injured party suffered back pain and rotator cuff tears in each shoulder and was forced to retire from his job doing road repair four years earlier. Read More
settlement (policy limits) awarded to a young man who lost his eye when another child shot an arrow into the air. Read More
settlement obtained for a man who was injured in a rear end automobile accident. He suffered a herniated disc in his low back which was not well resolved by surgery forcing him to leave his employment as an apartment maintenance manager. Read More
awarded to a gentleman in association with a workman’s compensation case. He initially sustained a head injury at work when attacked by a patient. Several years later, his condition worsened resulting in his inability to return to work in his usual job. Read More
settlement achieved in a legal malpractice case. The client initially suffered a herniated disc in her neck in association with an automobile accident. The attorney failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner and the Plaintiff was initially denied her ability to achieve any monies from the original lawsuit. Read More
settlement awarded to a man who was a victim of an automobile accident. Plaintiff was a passenger who was rear-ended by another driver. Following the accident, he suffered a long term back injury. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who aggravated a pre-existing back condition when she slipped and fell at the entrance to a casino. Read More
awarded to a woman who suffered a rotator cuff tear from an automobile accident. Read More