The Southeastern United States experiences a remarkably diverse range of weather conditions, from tropical storms and hurricanes along the coast to ice storms in the Piedmont and mountains. Each of these weather events creates unique hazards for drivers and contributes to a significant number of car accidents in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
Rain: The Most Common Weather Hazard
Rain is by far the most common weather-related factor in car accidents. According to the Federal Highway Administration, approximately 73 percent of weather-related crashes occur on wet pavement, and 46 percent occur during rainfall. In the Southeast, where summer thunderstorms can produce heavy downpours with little warning, rain-related accidents are a year-round concern.
Rain creates multiple hazards for drivers including reduced visibility, particularly during heavy downpours. Wet roads reduce tire traction, increasing stopping distances by as much as 50 percent. Standing water on roadways creates the risk of hydroplaning, where the tires lose contact with the road surface entirely. Spray from other vehicles further reduces visibility, and road markings and lane lines become harder to see.
Fog
Dense fog is common in the Carolinas and Georgia, particularly during fall and early winter mornings. Fog dramatically reduces visibility, sometimes to less than a few hundred feet. Multi-vehicle pileups on highways are frequently caused by drivers entering fog banks at highway speeds and being unable to see stopped or slow-moving vehicles ahead.
Ice and Winter Storms
While the Southeast does not experience the heavy snowfall of northern states, ice storms can be even more dangerous. A thin layer of ice on roads, known as black ice because it is nearly invisible, can cause vehicles to lose traction without any warning. Southeastern states are particularly vulnerable to ice storms because many drivers lack experience driving on icy roads, the road treatment infrastructure is less developed than in northern states, temperatures often hover near freezing, causing repeated freeze-thaw cycles that make roads particularly treacherous, and hilly terrain exacerbates the danger.
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
Coastal areas of the Carolinas and Georgia are regularly affected by hurricanes and tropical storms. These events bring extreme wind, flooding, storm surge, and debris that create extremely dangerous driving conditions. Even after a storm passes, hazards remain including flooded roads that may have structural damage hidden beneath the water, downed trees and power lines, non-functioning traffic signals, and debris on roadways.
Liability in Weather-Related Accidents
A common misconception is that weather-related accidents are no one's fault. In reality, drivers have a duty to adjust their driving for weather conditions. A driver who causes an accident by driving too fast for conditions, following too closely on wet roads, or failing to use headlights in fog may be held liable for the resulting injuries.
Stay Safe on the Road
The best way to avoid a weather-related accident is to reduce your speed, increase your following distance, turn on your headlights, and avoid driving during severe weather when possible. If you are injured in a weather-related accident, contact Dr. Ted Injury Law at (800) 555-HURT for a free consultation.