antonius, I have been caught in torrential downpours countless times. The rainy season can be ferocious in the Bay Area. My experience is that drivers will tend to splash you as there is, obviously, standing rain on the road. Many times, especially here in Silicon Valley they'll be nowhere for the rain to go, so I expect to get doused.

Given that visibility is reduced in such conditions, I also tend to be extra-alert to drivers who may not see me -- even though I have wildly visible gear, complete with annoying bright blinking lights.

To this day, after more than six straight years of bike-commuting, I have never experienced a situation like you descibe above.

I don't want to provoke an argument but I wonder if you gave the drivers enough of a chance. Were you truly visible? Were you riding safely, especially considering the conditions? Upon reflection, could you have done anything differently to reduce the likelihood of a situation?