What is the First Thing You Should Do When a Motor Vehicle Starts to Skid?

What is the First Thing You Should Do When a Motor Vehicle Starts to Skid?

Losing control of your vehicle is one of the most terrifying experiences a driver can face — especially when it happens without warning. Whether you’re driving in light rain or through the darkest winter ice, when your motor vehicle starts to skid, knowing what to do could save your life.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 42,514 lives were lost in 2022, a 10% increase from 2020, indicating a tragic increase in the number of families torn apart. Sadly, you don’t gain practical experience on handling skids when learning to drive, so a surprising number of drivers just panic.

In this guide, we provide some life-saving advice to support you when driving in treacherous conditions.

Key Takeaways

• Motor vehicle skidding is when one or more tires lose traction with the road surface, resulting in a partial or total loss of control of the vehicle.
• Skidding is mainly caused by adverse weather conditions and drivers failing to adapt to the conditions.
• The best way to deal with a skid is to avoid panicking, gently take your foot off the accelerator, and avoid harsh braking.
• Dealing with a skid also means adapting your recovery techniques to the type of skid, with front, rear, and all-wheel car skids all having different optimal mechanisms for recovering from them.
• Maintain situational awareness while skidding to ensure that you don’t make the situation worse than it is. Be especially aware of cross traffic, tailgaters, and potential obstacles you’re at risk of crashing into.
• After a skid-related accident, pull over and check that nobody is hurt. Report the accident to both the insurer and the authorities before taking the time to document the scene to deal with any future legal cases.
• If you’ve hit someone or been hit by a skidding vehicle, speak to a car accident lawyer who can explain your legal rights and push for compensation for any damages you sustained. 

Understanding Motor Vehicle Skidding

Motor vehicle skidding happens when one or more of your tires loses its grip on the road. The reason vehicles get you from A to B is that your tires maintain consistent traction with the road surface. When this is compromised, your car begins to skid.

Skidding is, unfortunately, incredibly common, with the IIHS reporting that 12% of all road traffic deaths are attributed to skidding on icy roads. Additionally, MarketWatch found that 16% of all weather-related crashes occur on slushy and snowy roads.

Definition of Skidding 

Skidding is defined as one or more tires losing grip on the road. If one of your tires loses traction, your vehicle starts to slide uncontrollably. It usually happens due to slippery conditions, but it can also happen due to sudden and unexpected maneuvers.

Excessive speed is perhaps the biggest contributor of all, but that doesn’t mean breaking the speed limit. It means going too fast for the conditions, so going at the same speed as you would on a sunny day would be an example of this. According to the National Safety Council, speeding was a factor in 29% of all road fatalities.

Note that skidding isn’t the same as a controlled slide, such as drifting. It’s an unintended loss of control.

Common Misconceptions About Skidding

Reacting the wrong way during a skid can turn a minor slip into a life-threatening situation. Slamming on the brakes, turning the wheel quickly, or that certain types of all-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles are immune to skidding are all myths that could cost you your life.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common misconceptions:

• Slamming the Brakes – Hitting the brakes hard will worsen a skid, causing an even greater loss of traction.
• Turning the Wheel Fast – Oversteering to get out of a skid will cause your vehicle to spin out. Steering should always be smooth and controlled.
• Certain Vehicles Don’t Skid – All-wheel and front-wheel drive systems provide better traction, but any vehicle can skid in the right conditions.
• Anti-Lock Braking (ABS) Stops Skidding – ABS is a supportive feature for braking control, but slick roads and sharp turns can still cause your vehicle to skid regardless.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that 94% of crashes result from human error, which is a figure that’s risen from 90% just a decade ago. Breaking through the most common misconceptions about skids is all part of getting this number down.

Identifying Causes of Skidding 

Skidding can happen for any number of reasons. Driver error, vehicle factors, and weather conditions can all cause a temporary loss of control. Skidding doesn’t automatically result in accidents if it’s handled correctly, but many drivers panic or don’t react to the danger quickly enough.

So, what are the three big causes of skidding?

Weather Conditions Contributing to Skids 

The most common cause by far of skidding is adverse weather conditions. Weather reduces the amount of traction available on the road surface, making it likelier the tires will lose their grip. Many assume that it’s just ice and snow that causes this problem, but even high winds and rain can compromise your control.

For example, rain can quickly mix with oil adhered to the road’s surface, essentially causing a diluted oil slick. Additionally, you may even face thin layers of moisture in snowy and frosty conditions, which can create black ice underneath bridges and on shaded roadways.

The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) analyzed crash data and found that 114,960 fatal accidents occurred during rainy conditions over a 38-year measuring period.

Vehicle Factors: Tires and Brakes

Your car’s condition influences its ability to retain traction. If your tires have been worn away or you’ve got faulty brakes, your wheels might lock up, or you won’t get the even braking necessary to keep your vehicle stable.

Other issues you might not expect can also influence your chances of skidding. Overinflating or underinflating your tires reduces surface contact because of the air pressure inside, which increases the chances of slipping. Plus, poor suspension could result in your tires losing contact with the road while turning or braking.

Issues like these are why the NHTSA attributes poor vehicle maintenance to over 100,000 disabling injuries annually.

Driver Behavior Leading to Loss of Control

Human error is the leading cause of accidents, and it’s not even close. Misjudging the situation and outright panic enhances the loss of control, causing a total loss of control of your vehicle. Examples include:

• Sudden braking
• Aggressive acceleration
• Driving too quickly
• Taking corners too quickly
• Distracted driving

Interestingly, the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) found that over 25% of fatal crashes have been associated with horizontal curves, which is where vehicles are most vulnerable to skidding because of excessive cornering speeds.

The First Critical Action When Skidding Occurs

The most important thing to do when skidding occurs is to do nothing. Your natural instincts will try to force you to change how you steer or hit the brakes, but the best course of action is to stay calm and take control of the situation.

Why Reacting Quickly is Vital

Skids can escalate from your heart missing a beat to spinning out and hitting a tree or oncoming traffic. Minor slides don’t need to turn into a tragedy, but while you shouldn’t panic, you also shouldn’t become a passive bystander.

Quick thinking doesn’t mean panicking. It means deploying a well-practiced response to get your vehicle back on track.

Immediately Taking Your Foot Off the Accelerator 

Take your foot off the accelerator in a smooth and controlled motion. Slamming on the brakes might be a myth, but the logic makes sense. Less speed means more control, but if you do it too quickly, you’ll worsen the slide.

Gently removing your foot from the accelerator does the following:

• Reduces wheel spin
• Shifts the vehicle’s weight
• Stops overcorrection

Acceleration exaggerates the loss of control because excessive wheel spin is often the original cause of the skid. By removing power to the wheels, you’re giving the wheel a chance to correct itself and generate traction again.

Steering During a Skid: What You Need to Know

Easing off the accelerator puts a halt to the problem and stops it from escalating, but now you must control the skid. Abrupt jerks on the steering wheel will make the skid worse. Instead, adopt proper steering techniques to regain control without veering, fishtailing, or spinning out entirely.

Turning Into the Direction of the Skid Explained

Turning into the skid sounds counterintuitive because it’s your natural instinct to steer away from the danger. In this case, the best course of action is moving toward the danger, and it’s backed by science.

For example, if your back end is moving to the right, steering right will cause your vehicle to realign. If it’s moving to the left, gently steer left to realign your vehicle.

Maintain both hands on the wheel and look in the direction you want to go. Once your vehicle is in the right direction again, make gentle, smooth movements to maintain your alignment and stop sliding the other way.

Note that front-wheel skids are a little different. Steering doesn’t have the same influence until you get your traction back. In this case, resist the urge to fight the wheel or make sharp turns.

Avoiding Oversteering and Sudden Movements

Oversteering means turning the wheel too sharply. When you oversteer, the vehicle can fishtail, which can eventually lead to you spinning out.

Sudden, sharp movements are the root cause of oversteering. Generally, you want to minimize your inputs and keep your movements smooth. Of course, stopping oversteering doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Once your vehicle realigns, allow it to settle before making further adjustments.

The goal when you’re out of an oversteer is to maintain the vehicle’s position rather than trying to overcorrect it. Even when done correctly to escape a steer, it still takes a few seconds to recover entirely.

Responding to Different Types of Skids

Did you know there are different types of skids?

Not all skids were created equal, and identifying what skid you’re experiencing dictates how you respond to it. If you try to use the same technique for every type of skid, you may find yourself buried in a wall.

So, how should you confront each type of skid?

Front-Wheel Skidding: Specific Responses

Front-wheel skids are known as understeers and happen when the front tires lose their grip on the road. In these skids, the vehicle keeps moving forward even while you’re trying to turn it.

Here’s how to handle it:

1. Pull off the accelerator immediately and refrain from braking.
2. Point the steering wheel in the direction you want to go. As your tires regain traction, your vehicle will begin reacting to your steering input again.
3. Once the traction has completely turned, you can start to tap on the brakes gently.

The most common cause of front-wheel skids is turning too sharply while going too quickly or braking hard on slippery road surfaces.

Rear-Wheel Skidding: Corrective Actions

Rear-wheel skids are the exact opposite of front-wheel skids, which is why they’re known as oversteers. In this case, it’s your rear wheels that have lost their grip on the road, which is why the biggest threat is spinning out.

So, what should you do if your car starts to skid?

1. Lift your foot off the gas pedal.
2. Steer gently into the skid as you pilot the car forward.
3. Begin steering back toward the center slowly as your tires start to regain traction.
4. Don’t brake unless you’re in danger of hitting something, and if you’ve got ABS, never apply more than gentle, steady pressure.

Icy roads and curves are the biggest causes of rear-wheel skids. However, these are the most common skids if you’ve got a rear-wheel drive vehicle.

All-Wheel Skidding: Maintaining Control

All-wheel skidding is the most dangerous skid of all because it’s when all four tires lose their grip on the road at the same time. It makes these skids notoriously challenging to get out of. Otherwise known as a four-wheel drift/slide, here’s how to handle them:

1. Remove your feet from both the accelerator and the brake pedals.
2. Point the steering wheel in the direction you’re trying to travel in.
3. Wait until you’ve got some traction back before making minute adjustments to realign the vehicle.
4. Don’t be tempted to pump the brakes. If your car has ABS, it will handle everything for you.

Unlike other skids, acceleration and steering have little to no impact on all-wheel skids. These skids are most commonly caused by trying to corner in icy or snowy conditions or during heavy braking.

Situational Awareness While Skidding

Skids don’t happen in isolation. What’s happening around you matters as much as what you do behind the steering wheel. Processing your surroundings and reacting to what’s happening outside of your vehicle is just as crucial for avoiding a collision as anything else.

So, how should you use situational awareness to turn a crash into a near-miss?

Using Your Eyes to Look Where You Want to Go

Getting out of the skid is your priority, but don’t forget where you want your vehicle to be. Always look in the direction of where you want to go, rather than what you’re trying to avoid.

It’s a physical and mental cue that helps you get out of the skid because your hands naturally follow your eyes. If you’re looking at a tree, you’re naturally going to steer towards it. Concentrate on the path you want to follow and give yourself a target that won’t cause your brain to go into overdrive.

It’s a principle called target fixation, and it’s one of the key defensive driving strategies you’ll learn if you take one of these classes.

Understanding Road Conditions and Surroundings

Acceleration control and gentle steering are the twin pillars of escaping a skid, but your surroundings will also influence your choices. Road gradient, the surface, other vehicles, and potential escape routes all come into the equation.

For example, every surface is different. Gravel, rain, oil, and ice will influence how quickly traction returns, and with it, your expectations. Likewise, different road gradients, like curves and hills, will also influence the direction you’re sliding in and your path to recovery.

Simultaneously, you should be aware of other vehicles and obstacles. It could be cross traffic, someone tailgating you, or road hazards, like a construction zone. This is what helps you establish escape routes, such as a safe space on the shoulder, or even a soft-impact zone that could save your life if your recovery efforts don’t come to fruition.

Preventative Measures to Avoid Skidding 

The best way to avoid a skid-related crash is to avoid skidding in the first place. The fact is that the overwhelming majority of skids are entirely preventable by adjusting to the road conditions, driving slowly, and keeping your vehicle in prime condition.

Taking proactive anti-skidding steps means you might never have to experience the terror of an unexpected skid in the first place.

Maintaining Vehicle Condition and Proper Tire Pressure

Your tires are your only contact area with the road, meaning if they’re worn or bald, you’re exponentially increasing your chances of a skid. It’s why Fox 13 reported that 35% of accidents involved worn or improperly inflated tires as a contributor.

Here’s what to do:

• Check your tire tread regularly.
• Maintain proper tire pressure.
• Inspect your vehicle periodically and before any major road trip.
• Take your vehicle to a mechanic a couple of times a year to have your brakes, suspension, and steering systems checked.

Ultimately, routine maintenance doesn’t just prevent failure of your vehicle’s systems but ensures your vehicle reacts as you expect it to during a skid.

Adjusting Driving Habits for Weather Conditions 

Skidding isn’t inevitable. Drive according to the environmental conditions, not just according to traffic laws. Just because you can go X speed on a certain road doesn’t mean you should during rain, sleet, snow, and fog.

The best piece of advice is to slow down because speed limits are based on safe speeds in normal conditions. During adverse weather conditions, you should be slowing down, increasing your following distance, and avoiding any sudden maneuvers, like quick accelerations or sharp turns.

Being extra cautious during adverse weather conditions, particularly during the winter months, is the best thing you can do to prevent skidding.

Driving Techniques for Icy or Wet Roads

Driving on wet and icy roads is a skill that comes with time. However, it’s also about balancing your need to get to where you need to go with anticipating the worst-case scenarios. Here are some life hacks for driving on slippery roadways:

• Accelerate and brake like there’s a glass of water sitting on your dashboard.
• Don’t use cruise control outside of optimal conditions.
• Shift into the lower gears when coming down steep hills.
• Master your vehicle’s drivetrain because front, rear, and all-wheel drive vehicles all behave differently.
• Slow down when approaching curves and intersections, and coast to maintain stability.

Yes, adopting these driving techniques will mean adding precious minutes to your journey. But getting somewhere a little later than usual is always preferable to a trip to the emergency room or the morgue.

What to Do After Regaining Control

Getting your vehicle back on solid ground is a major relief, but regaining control isn’t the end of the process. The seconds after your skid are crucial for calming down and preserving the integrity of your vehicle.

In the seconds and minutes after you’ve got your vehicle back under your control, here’s what to do:

Assessing Vehicle Damage and Personal Safety 

Get to a safe location and take a deep breath. Adrenaline and shock are perfectly normal, and it’s wise to let them wear off before continuing your journey. Ideally, you should find a place off the roadway (not on the shoulder) to regain your senses.

Take the chance to inspect your vehicle. Check your dashboard warning lights and listen to any odd sounds your vehicle might be making. It’s also a chance to walk around your vehicle and check for any damage to your tires.

If there’s anything wrong, call for help. Trying to soldier on could increase the chances of further skids, so it’s always best to play it safe.

Checking for Other Drivers and Possible Accidents

Be aware of how your skid control maneuvers could have impacted drivers around you. Immediately check your mirrors for any stopped vehicles behind you. If you made contact with any other vehicle, it’s your legal obligation to pull over, render aid, and exchange contact and insurance information.

Never leave or drive past the scene of an accident if a collision occurred because this is a hit-and-run offense, which is a crime in all 50 states.

Seeking Legal and Medical Assistance

Skid recovery may mean simply mitigating the ensuing accident. If you struck another vehicle, road user, or property, you or someone else may be injured or have suffered damage. Understanding what to do prevents legal exposure and preserves your health.

When to Consult a Lawyer After a Skidding Incident

Hiring an experienced car accident attorney is your shield against lawsuits filed against you and auto insurers attempting to do everything they can to diminish and deny your claim. If you’ve been involved in a skidding accident, contact an attorney in the following scenarios:

• You experienced an accident directly related to skidding.
• You’ve been accused of negligence by another party.
• The police cited you for reckless driving.
• The other driver’s insurance company is disputing fault.
• Your insurance claim has been denied.
• You have sustained serious injuries.

Personal injury lawyers are there to defend your legal rights and hold others to account. When you’re trying to recover from an accident, the best thing you can do is allow an experienced personal injury attorney to take control of your case.

Understanding Medical Implications and Coverage 

Injuries can happen whether you hit something or not. Neck strains, whiplash, concussions, and spinal issues are just some of the potential injuries you might experience, even if they don’t initially display symptoms. 

Ideally, you should visit your nearest emergency room for a full check-up because many injuries don’t start showing symptoms for hours, days, or even weeks later. Documenting your symptoms as and when they appear will assist you in pushing your claim for compensation later.

Some of the coverage options that can mitigate the medical implications include:

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
• MedPay
• Personal health insurance policy
• At-fault driver’s liability coverage

Which coverage options are available to you depend on your chosen auto insurance policy and the circumstances of your injuries. Again, this is something else a lawyer can help you understand. 

Legal Considerations for Skid-Related Accidents in Texas

Skid-related accidents allow you to hold others to account. All motor vehicle collisions can result in significant legal complications for multiple parties, especially if somebody else is responsible for your injuries.

Knowing the legal system at the state level enables you to assess your options and decide how to proceed.

Understanding the Statute of Limitations 

In Texas, the statute of limitations on all crashes is two years from the date of the accident. This deadline is set on filing a lawsuit, meaning informal negotiations and insurance claims don’t stop the clock.

If you fail to file your personal injury lawsuit in time, you’ll lose the right to claim financial damages, even if another party is 100% at fault.

Proving Liability in a Skid-Related Accident

Proving liability requires you to source evidence and demonstrate that someone else had a duty of care to you, breached that duty of care, and their actions or inactions directly led to measurable losses. Remember, multiple parties could be at fault.

Evidence may include:

• Police crash reports
• Dashcam footage
• Speed cameras
• Road conditions
• Vehicle conditions
• Driver behavior

Remember, under Texas’s shared liability laws, even if you’re partially at fault, you could still be entitled to compensation. In Texas, you must be less than 51% responsible for an accident to be eligible to receive financial compensation. 

Assessing Damages and Losses

You’re entitled to claim for economic and non-economic losses sustained as a result of your accident. This might include medical expenses, property damage, vehicle replacement costs, lost wages, mental anguish, towing fees, and even future earnings capacity if you’re left with permanent disabilities.

Remember, even if the weather triggers a skid, it’s still possible to incur some liability, such as if you were speeding or if you panicked and made the wrong decisions when trying to recover from the skid.

A lawyer will assess the total value of your claim to ensure you don’t leave money on the table as part of your claim.

Dealing With Insurance Companies After a Skid-Related Accident

Typically, after an accident, you’ll be claiming with an insurance company. Texas is an at-fault state, meaning you’ll claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Your first step after an accident will be to notify your insurance provider, as this is required under the terms and conditions of your policy. At this stage, what you can claim will depend on your coverage. 

For example, if you have collision coverage, you’ll be able to receive compensation for repairing your vehicle, even if you’re at fault. Likewise, if you’ve got PIP or MedPay, your medical costs are covered regardless of fault.

However, expect insurers to downplay your claim or argue that you were at fault. Remember, all insurers are looking to protect their bottom lines. It’s why we recommend hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer as early as possible in the process and allowing them to deal with the auto insurance company. 

The Importance of Legal Representation in Securing Fair Compensation

Insurance companies are looking to settle quickly and save as much money as possible. Handling your battle for compensation alone is never a wise decision. Instead, look for a legal professional to prevent further loss via a lowball settlement offer. Car accident attorneys do far more than just file paperwork.

Some of the ways they can help include:

• Keeping track of legal deadlines.
• Explaining your legal rights.
• Pursuing insurance companies.
• Dealing with opposing counsel.
• Calculate the actual value of your case.
• Challenging unfair fault assessments.
• Representing you in court. 

When there’s disputed liability, severe injuries, uninsured drivers, and insurers acting in bad faith, the only real antidote to all of these problems is a reputable lawyer.

At DJC Law, we’ve fought for compensation for thousands of Americans across Texas. We boast a 99% case success rate, representing over $400 million. Take advantage of the most aggressive litigators in Austin by contacting us for your free consultation today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Motor Vehicle Skidding 

Do safety features like ABS and traction control stop skids?

ABS and traction control reduce the risk of skidding, but they’re not foolproof. If you’re driving too fast for the conditions or try to make a sudden, sharp turn, no in-vehicle safety feature can prevent the vehicle from skidding. 

What should I do if I skid and hit someone?

Pull over, call 911, and exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver. Use this opportunity to document the scene by taking photos and approaching anyone who might have seen what happened. Don’t just drive off, as this is a criminal offense.

Can I be held legally liable if I skid and cause an accident?

Yes, even though a skid might be seen as just an accident, there are legal implications to every accident. If you were speeding, not driving to the road conditions, or even driving distracted, you could be charged criminally or sued by the other driver because it’s your fault.