Hydroplaning Accidents

Inclement weather frequently occurs on Cape Cod, and it often makes driving more difficult. For example, rain can cause issues such as reduced visibility and slippery roads. When roads are slick from rain, it can lead to hydroplaning, which can cause a driver to crash into another vehicle. While hydroplaning is brought about by rain, other factors can contribute to it as well, and in many instances, people hurt in hydroplaning accidents can recover damages from the driver that caused the crash. The capable Cape Cod car accident attorneys of The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, are well-versed in what it takes to prove liability in lawsuits arising out of collisions. If you were injured in a crash caused by hydroplaning, we will work hard to help you pursue the outcome you deserve. We have over fifteen decades of collective experience representing people in personal injury matters, and our zealous advocacy has enabled us to obtain many multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients.

Hydroplaning occurs when a thin sheet of water, usually caused by rain, covers a roadway, causing the tires of a vehicle to lose traction. Subsequently, the driver is unable to control the car, and therefore cannot steer, stop, or slow down, which often leads to accidents, including head-on collisions. While hydroplaning is typically caused by rain, other factors can make a car more likely to hydroplane as well. For example, if a driver is traveling at a speed that is too fast for the current conditions, it can make hydroplaning more likely to occur. It also commonly happens in cars that have tires with inadequate pressure or tread depth.

Massachusetts drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely in consideration of the given circumstances. As such, if they fail to abide by this duty and cause a hydroplaning collision, they can be held liable for any harm that ensues. Usually, a person injured in a car crash will assert a negligence claim against a driver involved in the collision in a civil lawsuit. Under Massachusetts law, a plaintiff asserting a defendant acted negligently has to establish that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty and that the defendant’s behavior constitutes a departure from the duty. The duty owed will depend on the circumstances and the relationship between the parties, but it may be a duty imposed by law or a duty to act with the care a reasonable person would employ in the same situation.

The plaintiff then has to show that the breach of the duty owed proximately caused the plaintiff to suffer actual harm. In a lawsuit arising out of a hydroplaning crash, this means that the defendant’s actions must be a substantial factor in bringing about the collision and that it would not have occurred absent the defendant’s behavior, and that the plaintiff sustained damages because of the accident.

A plaintiff that proves a defendant’s liability may be able to recover the cost of any medical treatment needed after the accident or that will be needed in the future, lost wages or future earnings, and out of pocket expenses. In addition to compensation for economic losses, plaintiffs are often awarded damages for the suffering, trauma, and pain caused by their injuries as well.

Simply because an accident occurs during bad weather does not mean that a person injured in the accident cannot recover damages. If you were hurt in a hydroplaning accident, it is advisable to meet with a lawyer to discuss your rights. At The Law Offices of John C. Manoog, III, our attorneys possess the skills and resources required to help injured parties obtain successful outcomes, and if we represent you, we will advocate aggressively on your behalf. We have a record of favorable results, including multiple cases where the compensation awarded exceeded one million dollars. We represent injured parties in lawsuits arising out of car accidents on Cape Cod and are available to meet with clients in Hyannis and Plymouth. You can contact us through our form online or at (888) 262-6664 to set up a meeting.