Syracuse, New York, Hydroplaning Car Accidents

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer, is Committed to Providing Unparalleled Representation and Peerless Personal Injury Service. If You, or a Loved One, Have Been Injured in a Hydroplaning Car Accident That Was Not Your Fault, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Investigate Your Collision and Begin Asserting Your Rights to a Fair Recovery.

Hydroplaning causes often involve a combination of driver inexperience, poor vehicle maintenance, and worn-out tires.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. believes that nobody should have to bear the burden of another motorist’s mistake. If you, or a loved one, have been injured in a hydroplaning car crash that was not your fault, our experienced team of attorneys could help you obtain the compensation you need to begin reclaiming your independence. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to build a compelling, evidence-based claim for recovery, and we have the results to prove it.

Please send us a message online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a hydroplaning accident lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your 100% free consultation.

If a car hydroplanes, it means that the tread of its tires can no longer disperse water through its grooves. Instead, the weight of the vehicle pushes water underneath the tires, forming a thin film of fluid between the tread and the pavement. Since this thin film of fluid can act as a buffer between the tires and the road surface, it can cause a near-total loss of traction that leaves drivers unable to brake, turn, or steer.

In ordinary conditions, and with a good tire, hydroplaning is largely avoidable.

New York law, for instance, requires that passenger cars, including sedans, SUVs, and most pick-up trucks, have a minimum tread depth of 2/32 of an inch. Other states have very similar requirements, and for very similar reasons. One of these reasons is that tire tread, the grooves and slits that run along the circumference of street tires, is designed to prevent hydroplaning by channeling water into its crevices and away from the vehicle.

Although some cars that meet New York’s tire tread requirements could still lose traction on wet roads, hydroplaning-related risk is typically dependent on the following factors:

1. Speed: Cars that travel at higher speeds put more pressure on standing road water.
2. Tire Tread Depth: Tires that have lower levels of tread can less effectively channel water through their grooves, and may be much more susceptible to hydroplaning than tires that are new or otherwise in good condition.

3. Road Water Depth: Hydroplaning can occur in water depths as shallow as 1/10 of an inch, but deeper water usually corresponds with a greater risk.

Since hydroplaning requires the presence of several risk factors, higher rates of speed, low tire tread depth, and a noticeable accumulation of standing water, most accidents can be avoided through a combination of caution and responsible vehicle maintenance.

Drivers who fail to take common-sense precautions, like replacing worn-out tires or slowing down in heavy rain, are often found at fault in hydroplaning accidents. If you, or a loved one, has been hurt by a negligent motorist, you could be entitled to significant compensation.

Please send the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. a message online, or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a hydroplaning car crash lawyer near Syracuse and discuss your options for effective legal relief.

New York may be a no-fault insurance state, but survivors who have suffered certain serious injuries still have a right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person or party who caused their accident.

However, identifying defendants in a hydroplaning claim is not always as easy or as straightforward as it may seem. Depending on the circumstances of your Syracuse car crash, any of the following parties could be found liable for your losses:

1. A Driver Who Lost Control of Their Vehicle: Every motorist has a legal duty to operate their vehicle safely and in a manner unlikely to cause injury to themselves or others. If a driver fails to meet this basic obligation, whether by going too fast for conditions or running worn-out tires, they could be liable for the costs of your accident.

2. A Driver Who Caused You to Lose Control of Your Vehicle: Since hydroplaning is usually caused by excessive speeds or poor vehicle maintenance, the driver of the hydroplaning vehicle is usually found at fault. However, there are exceptions to this general rule. If, for example, you lost control of your vehicle after another motorist forced you to swerve or take sudden evasive action, they could be responsible for your damages.
3. A Government Agency or Contractor: Local, state, and federal agencies all play a role in maintaining different types of roadways. If a government agency or private contractor designs an inherently unsafe road or fails to correct a well-known drainage problem, they could share some blame for your hydroplaning accident.
4. A Tire Manufacturer: Almost everyone who buys a new tire expects that it will be free from defects that could put their safety at risk. Tire manufacturers who sell flawed tires can, under certain circumstances, be found liable for injuries caused by their defective products.

Even if you think you know who should be found at fault for your accident, establishing a defendant’s liability can be very challenging, especially if they do not agree with your version of events, or try telling the judge that your own negligence caused or contributed to the collision.

You do not have to accept excuses in place of compensation. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades aggressively advocating for the rights of car crash victims across New York. Our experienced team of attorneys could help you overcome even the most vigorous defense by taking steps, including, but not limited to, the following:

Hydroplaning car accidents are typically caused by a combination of bad weather, poor tire tread, and high speeds. However, other factors, like distracted driving, fatigue, or alcohol consumption, can contribute to these types of collisions.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could investigate the causes of your crash, ensuring that negligent drivers cannot fall back on a flimsy defense.

Different kinds of evidence can play a critical role in both establishing a defendant’s liability and in determining how and why an accident happened.

Even if you could not collect any evidence from the crash site, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could take the following steps to ensure that no stone is left unturned:

1. Dispatching a team to take pictures of the crash scene;
2. Analyzing any photographs you have taken of your injuries or the damage to your vehicle;
3. Reviewing surveillance camera footage and dashcam recordings;
4. Subpoenaing the at-fault driver’s communications records and vehicular “black box” data; and
5. Locating and interviewing potential eyewitnesses.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. regularly works with a wide range of expert witnesses, highly experienced professionals who can reconstruct accident sites, identify discrepancies between what a negligent driver says and what the physical evidence shows, or assess how much money you might need to meet your long-term medical needs.

If you file a personal injury lawsuit against a reckless driver, a government agency, or a tire manufacturer, there is a good chance their own insurance company will be responsible for your recovery.

However, insurance companies are fundamentally profit-driven enterprises, and they rarely pay claims without asking questions. In many cases, adjusters employ underhanded strategies designed to limit their liability, even if it means refusing to offer a fair settlement or trying to shift the blame onto your shoulders.

We could help you keep your claim safe from strategies designed to turn your settlement into pocket change, ensuring that insurance companies do not get any more information than they need to assign liability and assess your damages.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. understands that few Syracuse families have the resources needed to take a multibillion-dollar insurance company to court.

So, instead of asking you to pay a retainer, we work on a contingency-fee basis. In other words, we will cover all of your standard legal costs and only accept payment as a percentage of any eventual settlement or court-ordered award. If we cannot win your case, we do not get paid.

By working with us, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Please send us a message online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a hydroplaning car crash lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Syracuse, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!