Tropical Storm Ida Drenches East Tennessee
East Tennessee was drenched yesterday by the remains of Tropical Storm Ida, with some areas receiving an inch and a half of rain or more. Such weather brings with it a host of unfavorable driving conditions and substantially increases the risk and frequency of motor vehicle accidents. Tennessee law imposes upon drivers who drive in such conditions a duty to drive in a reasonable and safe manner under the circumstances or else risk being held liable in a personal injury suit.
Perhaps the most obvious danger associated with driving in heavy rains is flash flooding. Roadways can flood in unexpected places and with little to no warning, causing serious problems for vehicles that have to find a way to navigate through such conditions. Highways and interstates are also especially conducive to hydroplaning when large amounts of rain lead to standing water on the roadways. Given the high speeds at which drivers on these roads travel, hydroplaning can lead to devastating accidents, possibly resulting in severe injury and even death.
Likewise, heavy rains will often result in slick roads on which one wrong maneuver can send a driver careening off the roadway or a sudden stop can lead to a skid. Finally, rainy conditions are often accompanied by decreased visibility which equates to decreased reaction time.
Tennessee law mandates that drivers must take these conditions into account and drive as a reasonably prudent person would in similar circumstances. A driver who drives the same way in adverse conditions as they would in normal conditions may nonetheless be liable for negligence if the conditions dictate that a reasonable driver would proceed in a more cautious manner.
The aforementioned weather conditions generally dictate that drivers slow down and proceed with caution, and most drivers adjust accordingly. However, drivers who feel the need for speed should be aware that rainy and wet conditions amplify the danger that fast and aggressive driving poses to not only the speeding driver but also the other drivers on the roadway. Accompanying this increased danger is an increasing likelihood of East Tennessee car accidents which may result in the driver at fault being responsible for damages like pain and suffering and medical expenses incurred by another party as a result of an accident caused by the offending party’s negligent driving.
