Water Hazards

Georgia Hydroplane and Road Hazard Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been catastrophically injured as a result of a hydroplaning accident, the lawyers at the Law Offices of Joseph A. Fried are among a select few with extensive experience in this technically advanced area. Fried’s study of physics, hydrology, engineering and accident investigation and reconstruction help him in preparing the best possible case for his clients.

Here is an important distinction.

• Hydroplaning - a condition where one or more tires lose all or nearly all contact with the roadway surface. This can result in a loss of control and ability of the driver to direct the vehicle with normal driver input such as steering or braking.
• Hydrodynamic Drag – When a vehicle encounters water puddling or accumulation only on only one side of the vehicle, and the tires on that side hit the water and are markedly slowed down relative to the tires on the other side, this is referred to as hydrodynamic drag. The driver will experience the vehicle pull hard or jerk towards the side of the road where the water accumulation is located. This can result in a driver losing control in a number of ways. First, the strong pull can result in the driver hitting something or leaving the roadway in the direction of the water. Second, the driver will sometimes steer hard away from the drag which can result in what is called an “overcorrection.” When this happens the vehicle will end up off the roadway or in a collision directionally away from the water accumulation. This is why asking the driver to explain the feeling of what happened is so important.

When wet weather or water-related accidents happen, proving the accident was not the fault of the hydroplaning driver is of huge importance. The key is a thorough and knowledgeable investigation of the case. For a primer on how these cases are handled, lawyers can read more on Attorney Joseph A. Fried’s presentation to the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association in Hilton Head in August 2007.

Roadway Hazards - can be things other than water. When conditions impair vision (billboards, signs, shrubs, etc.) or cause drivers to lose control (e.g., edge drop offs, gravel or debris, potholes, etc.), you may have an actionable case. To find out, contact the Law Offices of Joseph A. Fried to investigate.