Car Accidents Caused by Damaged or Poorly Designed Roadways in Texas

Roadways that are improperly maintained or poorly designed and constructed can cause or contribute to serious car accidents in Texas.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a summary of a study in which the critical reasons for 2.2 million traffic crashes on U.S. roadways were investigated. The researchers determined that environmental factors were behind 52,000 accidents.

Weather conditions accounted for some of the environmental factors. However, that category also included the following:

• Slick roads caused by loose debris, ice, etc. (26,000 crashes).
• View obstructions (6,000 crashes).
• Road design (1,000 crashes).
• Signs and signals (1,000 crashes).
• Other highway-related conditions (5,000 crashes).

Federal, state and local governments and the contractors they hire have a duty to safely design, construct and maintain the roads we travel on. When they fail do so properly and traffic accidents are the outcome, the responsible parties may be held liable for injuries.

At Kraft & Associates, P.C., we help injured victims of traffic accidents pursue compensation for the losses they have suffered. If you have been seriously injured in a crash caused by dangerous roadways, our experienced Dallas car accident attorneys can investigate your accident to determine who may be responsible for your injuries and seek the compensation you deserve.

Let the law offices of Kraft & Associates, P.C., advise you about your legal rights. We’re an established and professional law firm with friendly lawyers and staff who are easy to talk to. Please call us at (214) 999-9999 or contact us online.

Common Types of Dangerous Roadways

Roads can be dangerous for motorists because of their faulty design or construction, or they can become dangerous when the responsible parties are negligent in maintaining them for safety.

Examples of common roadway hazards include the following:

• Steep shoulder drop-offs.
• Improper grading.
• Excessively sharp curves.
• Lanes too narrow.
• Improper drainage.
• Potholes and cracked pavement.
• Gravel or debris on the road.
• Missing or broken guardrails.
• Inadequate or improper signage.
• View obstructions.
• Fallen trees or limbs.
• Missing or malfunctioning traffic signals.
• Improper or inadequate lane markings.
• Missing manhole covers.
• Lighting that is missing, inadequate or not functioning.
• Road construction.

Who Is Responsible for Road Hazards?

Determining liability for traffic crashes and injuries caused by roadway defects can be complicated. Under certain circumstances, government entities may be held responsible. In such cases, because of the protections provided to government agencies against liability for tort claims, specific rules and procedures must be followed within certain time limits.

It is important to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after an accident caused by a road defect to ensure that you do not give up your rights by failing to follow the correct procedures within the specified time frame.

Parties other than government agencies may also be potentially liable for your injuries. Private companies hired by the government – such as engineers who may be responsible for faulty road design, contractors responsible for inferior construction or private companies that have provided inadequate maintenance – may be liable for your injuries.

If your accident occurred on a private road or in a parking lot, you may have a claim against the property owner or the party responsible for maintaining the property.

Evidence of Poor Road Design, Maintenance or Construction

In car accident cases caused by road defects, it is vital to obtain and preserve evidence early in the process. Crucial evidence could easily disappear if steps are not taken to preserve it. The conditions that caused your accident may be quickly remedied or altered, and documents or electronic evidence could be destroyed if you fail to act quickly.

The evidence will depend on the type of road defect that caused your accident and the circumstances of your particular case. The following are some examples of common types of evidence in road defect injury claims:

• Pictures of the accident scene, taken immediately after the car accident, or as soon as possible thereafter.
• Measurements taken after the accident to establish relevant facts, such as the length of a guardrail, the distance between a warning sign and the hazard it warns motorists about, the width of a narrow lane or the degree of a dangerous slope.
• Official weather reports showing conditions at the time of the accident.
• Blueprints showing the original design for the roadway.
• Government records of maintenance schedules and orders and any complaints previously filed.
• Road construction plans, schedules and orders if construction was a factor in the crash.

Get Help from Our Dangerous Road Lawyers

Our firm has been helping people injured in car accidents through the negligence of others for decades. We are committed to helping you recover compensation for serious injuries you have suffered in a crash caused by dangerous road defects.

The personal injury attorneys at Kraft & Associates, P.C., have tried and settled many accident claims in Dallas and other North Texas locations. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience to protect your rights and interests in a dangerous road accident claim.

Please call the Dallas accident lawyers at Kraft & Associates, P.C., at (214) 999-9999, or you can send us an e-mail at kraftlaw@kraftlaw.com, or complete our online form for a free assessment of your case.

Sources:

• NHTSA: Critical Reasons for Crashes Investigated in the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey