When your car is submerged, the water can ruin the electrical and mechanical system, and you end up paying for repairs.
Vehicle submersion accidents have the highest fatality rates. However, these accidents constitute less than 1 percent of all accidents. Sadly, Florida is one of the states where vehicle submissions occur. This is attributed to the many lakes, rivers, and wetlands that abound in the state.
When the negligent actions of a driver or poor road maintenance lead to the loss of lives in a submerged car accident, the affected family can pursue compensation.
Florida Has a History of submerged Car Accidents
In 2021, police in Florida rescued a 12-year-old girl from a submerged car after an accident. Sadly, the 38-year-old driver was found dead in the car when it was pulled out of the pond. The accident happened when the car crashed into a pond.
What Are The Causes Of Submerged Car Accidents?
How the car comes to be submerged in the first place is a big question that needs to be answered. The fault might lie with another driver, the weather, or poor roads, among a host of possibilities.
Bad weather
A common cause of such accidents is terrible weather. Changes in the weather might force you to react in a way that you wouldn’t expect. For instance, a gust of wind can make you lose control and crash into a pond. Heavy rain, wet roads, and hurricanes can also contribute to accidents.
Torrential downpours reduce the distance a motorist can see in all directions. This makes it difficult for you to notice and respond to hazards. Downpours also cause roadway flooding. Driving on a flooded road is risky because it can make you lose control and spin off the road.
Poor Road Conditions
Not all submerged car accidents in
are caused by another person’s negligent actions. Some accidents happen due to poor road conditions. In such a case, you are free to hold the relevant road maintenance crew responsible for the failure to install guardrails and design roads properly, plow wet roads, replace missing signage, or repair potholes.
Holding the people responsible for this work isn’t easy, so you need to work with competent car accident attorneys to help you handle the situation.
Animals
Although not so common, animals are a significant cause of accidents in the rural backroads of Connecticut. Many people swerve to avoid hitting a deer or a raccoon and find their cars submerged in wetlands or ponds.
Accidents Caused by Negligent Drivers
There are times when the carelessness of another person causes an accident. The at-fault driver might be drunk, speeding, or distracted on the road. With such a large number of cars on the road, it takes a split second for the driver to send you into a pond.
Injuries Sustained From Submersion Accidents
For those involved in a submersion accident, the leading cause of injuries is oxygen deprivation. This causes brain damage or another injury that might last a lifetime.
The human body isn’t designed to withstand oxygen deprivation for long. When someone tries to breathe underwater, oxygen doesn’t get to the lungs, and instead, water fills up the spaces that are supposed to be taken up by oxygen.
Children are at a higher risk of drowning during such an accident. Most of them haven’t developed the skills to handle the danger that water brings.
What Should You Do if You are in a Submerged Car Accident?
If you are hurt in a submerged car accident, you have the right to sue for compensation. A personal injury lawyer helps you understand how you can navigate Florida law to your advantage. If you lose a loved one in a submerged car accident, call car accident attorneys today to discuss the case so that they help you explore your options for a fair settlement.