When driving, you have enough to worry about between careless drivers, obeying traffic laws, and ensuring your car is in great condition. However, dangerous road conditions can lead to damage and accidents, just like a negligent driver. As such, it’s essential to understand what hazards you should anticipate and learn who is liable for any damages that occur, as you can seek compensation with the help of a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. The following blog explores what common conditions can cause accidents so you can be on the lookout to help mitigate damage.
What Constitutes Dangerous Road Conditions?
Unfortunately, there are a number of ways in which road conditions can be dangerous. Generally, this includes poorly designed roads or those in need of repair.
Poorly maintained roadways can include any of the following hazards:
- Potholes
- Cracks
- Erosion
- Debris left on the road
- Blocked drainage
- Shoulder grading
- Broken or outdated signs
- Broken lighting
- Fading traffic lines
- Out-of-control vegetation
However, poorly maintained roads aren’t the only issue drivers can face. If the entity responsible for planning and constructing the road did not do proper research or cut corners when working on the project, a poorly designed road may also lead to issues, such as the following:
- Blind curves
- Sharp turns
- Improper drainage
- Building in an area prone to erosion
- Narrow roadways
- Unsafe entrance ramps to highways
- Failure to include shoulder space
Unfortunately, these conditions can all lead to devastating accidents. For example, if a stop sign is broken, an approaching driver may not know to stop, which can lead to a collision. Similarly, if there is a deep pothole on the road, it can lead to the axle of a car breaking, which can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
If you’ve been in an accident caused by dangerous road conditions, understanding who can be held responsible for the damages you’ve endured is vital. In general, you may assume the town government where the accident occurred is liable. However, the entity responsible for the roadway can be the town, county, or state. For example, Caltrans, which is a department of the state, is responsible for maintaining I-80 in California.
If a driver was negligent, such as speeding down a roadway before hitting a pothole and crashing into you, you may be able to hold them liable as well. This is because they may have had time to avoid the hazard if they were traveling the posted speed limit on the road.
Were you injured because an entity failed to maintain the roadways? If so, ensuring you contact the Law Offices of Dale R. Gomes as soon as possible is crucial to recovering the compensation you deserve. Our dedicated team can help you pursue justice for any injuries you endured because of poor road conditions. Contact us today to learn how we will fight for you.