Anytime drivers get on the highway, they often encounter a variety of road defects that they are not suspecting. A large majority of these defects are inconspicuous and are never perceived as a problem to cause potential harm drivers. However, some road defects may result in serious injury or property damage and could severely harm those who are unfortunate enough to come in contact with them.
Although they may appear minor, even smaller defects could be dangerous under certain conditions, so it is crucial for drivers to consistently look out for potential abnormalities in the road so that they do not fall victim to single vehicle accidents from dangerous road conditions.
Road defects can include a number of dangerous conditions, including:
- Uneven pavement
- Shoulder drop-offs
- Damaged guardrails
- Missing road signs
- Potholes
- Excessive road debris
- Drainage problems
- Broken street lights
The type and variety of potential road defects is quite limitless. Any hazardous defect, though, could lead to serious injuries for drivers, their passengers, and other fellow motorists.
Road defects may have a number of effects on a driver. It can cause him or her to lose control of their vehicle, it could push him or her into oncoming traffic, or it may have many other effects that could potentially lead to an auto accident.
Never the less, when people are injured due to faults in the road, they have a right to hold the responsible individual(s) accountable for their negligence. In such cases, many times the responsible party is the municipality in charge of maintaining the roadway were the car crash took place. In other cases, it might be a negligent road construction company.
It is important to understand that victims of road defects could be be entitled to financial compensation if they choose to pursue legal action against the responsible parties. To do this, individuals should first hire experienced lawyers. Our firm is very familiar with vehicle accident law and we know how insurance companies work to get out of paying the maximum compensation you might deserve.