Each year, there are over 30,000 people who lose their lives or are injured as a result of a car accident. Among the most common contributors of vehicle collisions are roadway defects. The National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey, a report recently presented to Congress, estimated that there are approximately 13,500 vehicle collisions each year. This figure includes collisions caused by the design of a road, problems with highway signs or signals, blocked road views, and other similar hazardous conditions.
Dangerous Roadway Defects
Street and highway defects can be very dangerous because they often cause hazards that motorists cannot evade. Depending on the size of the road, there are multiple dangerous conditions that could cause a vehicular accident. Some of the most common hazardous conditions include, but are not limited to the following:
- Absent or inaccurately placed road signs, signals, and guardrails
- Scarce road shoulders
- Overgrown trees and shrubs that obstruct a driver’s view
- Frail overpasses and bridges
- Work zones that are not adequately marked off
- Intersections that are not effectively designed
- On-ramps and off-ramps that are not properly designed
- Defectively designed curves
- Worn pavement, potholes, rough patches, serious cracks, or highway edge drop-offs
- Railroad crossings not marked or properly protected
Collisions Caused by Wrong-Way Drivers
The most dangerous types of vehicular accidents caused as a result of poor road designs include head-on collisions, which occur when drivers travel down the wrong way on a road. A study compiled by the National Transportation Safety Board found that among the many causes behind deadly wrong-way vehicle crashes, one of the most common causes involve drivers entering roads or highways through exit ramps.
Although driver-correlated choices such as driving while under the influence of an impairing substance played a role in driving in the wrong direction, poor lighting and poor road signage also played a key role in the disastrous incidents. The National Transportation Safety Board concluded its findings by stating that that making sure there is a clear sign, road markings, and other ways to make the road visible at night can significantly lower the number of accidents caused by wrong-way drivers.
Obtain the Legal Support of an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney You Can Trust
When a car accident occurs, there are certain cases where other drivers will not be completely at-fault for the collision. This can be particularly true in single vehicle accidents. Auto accidents caused by defective roads can able difficult to demonstrate. If you have been injured as a result of a defective roadway design, seeking the legal support of a qualified attorney can help you obtain the restitution you deserve.
At SANFORD A. KASSEL, A Professional Law Corporation, we are committed to providing our clients the legal skills necessary to help them win the restitution they deserve following an auto accident. Filing a personal injury claim over an auto accident caused by a roadway defect is a complex process. In many cases, it is necessary to file a claim against a government agency such as a city or county, especially if the accident involves a single-car collision. If you have been injured in a collision caused by a road defect, obtain the legal support you need to help you win your case.
