Many people assume that car accidents occur because of the reckless driving of other motorists. While distracted driving, speeding, and drunk driving can all cause car accidents, poor road conditions can also lead to a driver losing control of their vehicle and crashing.
Poor road conditions can lead to dangerous driving conditions. Examples include potholes, cracks in the road, missing stop signs and traffic control signals, faded road markings, missing guardrails, road debris, and untreated wintry conditions.
Those who suffer car accidents due to poor road conditions can file claims with the insurance companies of the at-fault parties, including road maintenance crews, local governments, and other drivers. They can file these claims to pursue compensation for damages., such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Car Accidents Caused by Potholes and Road Cracks
Poor road maintenance occurs when those responsible for making roads safe make mistakes, leading to conditions that can cause car accidents. Potholes are a common example of poor road maintenance.
This is when the degradation of road materials causes a hole in the road. When a motorist drives over a pothole, they can damage their tires and lose control of their vehicle, crashing their car in the process.
Similar issues that can cause car accidents include cracks in the road and road debris. Each of these can get in the way when you are driving and cause issues with your tires, leading to conditions that can cause you to crash into another car or heavy object.
How Can Missing Stop Signs and Traffic Control Signals Cause Car Accidents?
Drivers need signs and road signals to operate their vehicles safely. These signs and signals can help them realize when they must stop, slow down, speed up, yield to pedestrians, be aware of curves in the road, and watch out for wild animals.
When a road maintenance crew fails to put up a sign or traffic control signal, a driver could make a mistake that could cause an accident. For example, intersections require traffic control signals to command traffic properly, ensuring that drivers do not drive while it’s unsafe.
Without a traffic control signal, a driver may run through an intersection when it’s unsafe for them to go. This can cause a car or pedestrian accident that can lead to severe injuries with long-term pain and suffering.
Car Accidents Caused by Faded Markings on Roads
Markings on the road can also help drivers avoid car accidents. They can show where lanes are supposed to be, where you should stop before a traffic control signal, and if a lane is a turning lane. Without lane markings, drivers can make mistakes that can bring them into contact with other drivers.
Roads that do not have lane markings can confuse drivers, leading to them possibly drifting away from their side of the road. This can lead to sideswipe accidents, as they come too close to drivers in the line next to them.
Drivers Can Crash Due to Missing Guardrails
Guardrails are boundary protective guardings that are helpful on dangerous roads. These safety barriers allow drivers to have protection from driving off the road after a sharp turn or when they lose focus due to distracted driving.
Without these protections on dangerous roads, drivers have little room for error. They will not have anything on the road to keep them safe when their mistake or another driver’s reckless driving causes them to veer off the road. A lack of guardrails can lead to catastrophic car accidents that can lead to wrongful death.
One such incident of this happened in September 2022 when a North Carolina man drove over a collapsed bridge without guardrails. He passed away from the impact of crashing into the creek below. Currently, his family is suing Google for failing to update their Google Maps application with information about the collapsed bridge.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Car Accident Caused by Poor Road Maintenance?
Victims of car accidents caused by poor road maintenance can file claims to pursue compensation for damages. They must identify the at-fault party, file a claim with their insurance company, and negotiate a settlement.
One potentially liable party can be road maintenance crews. It’s their responsibility to ensure they properly maintain roads and streets to prevent harmful road conditions. Negligent behavior from them can lead to poor road conditions that can cause accidents, leaving them liable.
You could also attempt to hold the government agency responsible for road maintenance accountable for poor road conditions causing car accidents. This can be difficult, as it can be challenging to prove their negligence. Speak to a car accident lawyer to determine if this path is worth the effort.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help With Your Poor Road Maintenance Claim?
If you suffered a car accident from poor road maintenance, you could file a car accident claim to pursue compensation for damages. Some of the economic and non-economic damages you could suffer include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium.
Hiring a car accident lawyer following your accident gives you the best chance to recover fair compensatory damages. They have experience handling car accident claims processes and can use their expertise to explain how to hold the at-fault party accountable.
One of the most important ways they can help you is by negotiating a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Some insurance providers will try to deny, delay, or devalue your settlement. An experienced car accident attorney can help mitigate these bad-faith tactics to help you recover fair compensation for damages.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Car Accident Claim
At The Russo Firm, our car accident attorneys have decades of experience helping car accident victims recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages. We understand how poor road maintenance can make driving difficult and wish to offer our expertise.
Our experienced car accident lawyers can help you calculate damages, determine the liable parties, collect evidence, speak to witnesses, and negotiate a fair settlement. Contact us for a free poor road maintenance car accident consultation at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
