The most common causes of car accidents are speeding, distracted driving and drunk driving. Although they comprise a large portion of accidents on the road today, one cause that’s often overlooked is dangerous road conditions. Twenty percent of all fatal road accidents involve a single car that runs off the road. The vehicle often collides with a fixed object, creating an even more catastrophic collision.
A significant number of car accidents and injuries are caused by defective road design, defective construction, defective maintenance or defective adaptation to changing conditions. Below is a list of some of the most common defects in each category.
Defective Design:
- Dangerous curves in road layout
- Hazards obstructing visibility at intersections and crosswalks
- Dangerous slopes or dips in the road
- Pavement with inadequate skid resistance
- Improper drainage that leads to dangerous street surfaces, ponding, and sliding
- Parking policies that limit visibility of a unsafe intersection
Defective Construction:
- Failure to follow approved plans
- Substandard materials
- Poor workmanship
Defective Maintenance:
- Letting road surfaces to become dangerous (potholes)
- Allowing erosion and lowered visibility of painted markers
- Permitting signage and warnings to deteriorate or be removed
Defective Failure to Adapt:
- Dangerous road collapsing or sinking
- Changing use patterns by pedestrians and vehicles
- Ignoring evidence that accidents keep occurring on a dangerous road or at a single point on a road
Lengthy investigations can follow an accident where dangerous roads are the suspected cause of the accident. Government defendants often argue that driver error is the cause of the accident rather than an unsafe road. These types of cases can be difficult and expensive because government bodies that control the road have strong defenses. While significant time and effort occurs in these cases, a successful case not only benefits our clients, but could force changes to the dangerous roads and save the lives of future drivers.
If the cause of your accident is unclear and you suspect dangerous road conditions may have contributed to the accident, contact the lawyers at Eason and Tambornini, A Law Corporation. Our dangerous road attorneys can assess whether a dangerous road may have contributed to your accident and the subsequent injuries that may have occurred. We handle serious automobile accident cases and will work with you to settle your case and get you adequate compensation for your injuries and damages.
