Section 316.183, Florida Statutes provides as follows:
No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing.
Florida gets it fair share of rain and thunderstorms. Every year, Florida gets anywhere from 40 inches to 100 inches of rainfall. This, in turn, makes the roads slick and dangerous. According to the above Florida Statutes, drivers should adjust their speed when encountering road hazards like rain. Just because the posted speed limit is 55 miles per hour, that does not mean that it is safe to drive at this posted speed especially when there are wet roads and heavy traffic.
When a driver is operating his or her vehicle too fast for the road conditions, accidents / crashes can and do happen. Tragically, serious personal injuries and even the wrongful death of others result. Again, driving the posted speed limit can be quite dangerous when roads are wet or slick. Certainly, exceeding the posted speed limit on wet roads is recklessly dangerous.
When there is an automobile accident, there may be a civil case or claim to pursue based on the facts and circumstances. The police report should be reviewed. Witnesses should be interviewed. If the circumstances warrant it, it may also be prudent to hire a trained accident reconstruction expert to determine the cause and preventability of the crash. The investigation and pursuit of a case in the aftermath of a serious Florida Automobile Accident can be quite complicated and confusing. As such, it is advisable to contact a Florida Child Injury Lawyer for advice, consultation, and when the facts are right - legal representation.
In Jefferson County, Florida, a serious automobile accident was recently reported that left in its aftermath - three dead people and 5 injured people. The crash took place on Interstate 10. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that a Ford pick up truck hydroplaned on a wet roadway and went into the Interstate 10 median. The truck then crashed into a Honda SUV. Because serious injuries and deaths resulted from this crash, the Florida Highway Patrol will complete a detailed crash investigation to determine the approximate speed and direction of the vehicles. This is jut one of too many accidents that resulted from vehicles going out of control when the Florida roads are wet. This crash should serve as notice to others to be careful when driving on Florida roadways. You can read more about this crash at Three Dead - Five Injured in Jefferson County, Florida Automobile Crash.
The book titled - When the Wheels Stop Spinning - Legal Rights of the Injured Child - What Parents Need to Know After the Accident - has chapters on Automobile Accidents, Bicycle Accidents, Pedestrian Accidents, Wrongful Death, and other topics. You can get this book for free at When the Wheels Stop Spinning. Another excellent resource for parents is the book titled - When a Parent’s World Goes From Full to Empty - The Wrongful Death of a Child - What You Need to Know About the Florida Wrongful Death Act. You can get this book for free at From Full to Empty.