Cited for Driving Too Fast for Conditions After Hydroplaning

My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: South Carolina (Aiken county)

Hi everyone, and thank you so much for your time!

So my girlfriend and I were in Aiken county South Carolina on our way back to Georgia, (She was driving) we were on I-20 as it began to POUR, I don't know the exact speed but we were driving WELL below the posted limit in an effort to be safe, as we really do value our lives and the lives of other drivers. We happened at one point to end up next to the driver of a semi while being on the left-most lane of the freeway. As we were driving, said semi-driver I'm sure unknowingly began to come out of his lane and run us off the road, attempting to avoid ending up under him we began to lightly hydroplane, which happens from time to time, and has always been manageable for us, but how close this truck was we were literally almost less than 2 inches away from being UNDER this semi. I truly do believe the only thing that kept us from being semi food was my girlfriend turning the wheel to the left and us hitting the wire median. It was quite the experience. Now my question is, under the circumstances, is it worth it to go to court and try to fight this $158 ticket? Or should we just pay up? court is 3 hours away! :wallbang: If I do go, what should be said, and what should NOT be said?

I don't know if any of these details matter but : My statement that was supposedly supposed to be taken, never was. No paramedic was called to make sure we were okay. It was a single-vehicle accident and thankfully noone was injured. I do truly believe if it had not been for my girlfriend's last second actions to attempt to get to the median next to us we would have been killed.

If you are hydroplaning (regardlesss of the provocation) you are driving too fast for conditions.
You can try to fight it, but you've not said anything exculpatory.

Why do you think your "statement" has to be taken? The case is not tried on the side of the road. If you felt that the officer should have summonsed medical assistance and you'd like to correct that then file a complaint with his department. It has no bearing on your guilt.

Your girlfriend's last second actions don't obviate the fact that if she had been driving a safe speed she would not have lost control.

I never said it HAD to be taken, I only said that is was supposedly supposed to be taken, as in the officer had stated he needed me to give a (in his words) "statement", which we got side-tracked and that never happened. But thank you for your response.