If you’ve ever driven in Los Angeles, you have likely seen multiple road hazards on our streets and highways. Missing or broken street signs, potholes, and unsecured road construction zones are just a few types of road hazards that can lead to devastating accidents. Victims of road hazard car accidents may have a right to claim compensation against the negligent driver, municipality, or another liable party whose negligence caused their injuries.
Are you interested in pursuing a lawsuit or insurance claim against the person or entity responsible for causing your road hazard accident? If so, you’ll benefit from working with an experienced attorney. The Los Angeles car accident attorneys at Saeedian Law Group have a proven track record of recovering the full and fair amount of compensation they need and deserve. Contact Saeedian Law Group to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation consultation.
Car Accidents Involving Construction Zones
California has over 170,000 miles of well-traveled public roads and highways that require regular maintenance. As a result, construction crews are often hard at work throughout the year in California. Maintaining roads is an important way to keep them safe, but construction zones themselves can become a hazard. Traffic accidents involving roadside construction sites are far too common in California.
In a construction zone, any type of accident can have devastating consequences, including disabling physical or mental injuries and even death. Unfortunately, drivers and passengers suffer the most significant injuries and losses in construction zone accidents. Some of the most common causes of construction zone accidents on roads include the following:
- Rear-end collisions when drivers fail to slow down when driving near a construction zone
- Collisions with road work equipment or construction workers
- Collisions with medians and other construction zone barriers
- Collisions with large machinery
- Rollover crashes
- Collisions with other vehicles navigating the construction zone
Suppose you have been injured in a construction zone accident. In that case, you may be able to hold the construction company, the municipality, or a third-party driver liable for causing the accident.
Potholes Can Cause Serious Car Accidents
Potholes are more than just an annoying inconvenience. They can cause car accidents that result in devastating injuries. Los Angeles regularly ranks as one of the cities with the highest number of potholes. Sometimes a pothole is so deep or wide that a vehicle cannot handle the blow. Driving over a pothole can cause a driver to lose control of his or her vehicle, leading to a car accident. Motorcycle drivers and bicyclists are at a higher risk of injury if they ride over a pothole.
Motorcycles and bicycles only have two wheels and have a lower weight than cars, and they may be ill-equipped to handle potholes. Even the most careful drivers may be unable to avoid driving over a pothole. If you have been injured in a pothole accident, you may have the right to bring a legal claim against the municipality that failed to keep the streets in reasonably safe repair.
Missing or Broken Street Signs
Unclear, obscured signs with incorrect instructions or directions can make driving difficult. Local governments have a legal responsibility to keep their signs well-maintained. When a municipality fails to take reasonable steps to ensure that road signs are sufficiently safe, readable, and unobstructed, it may be liable for any car accidents caused by missing or broken street signs. If you were involved in an accident involving a poor sign, it’s important to write down details about the signage and take photos of the accident scene and the signs.
Limited Visibility Due to Poor Road Design or Overgrown Trees
Local governments are responsible for keeping public roads free from overgrown trees and other obstructions that could make it difficult for drivers to maintain visibility. For example, the road can be dangerous if there are significantly overgrown shrubs blocking the view of a driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist. Making turns can also be dangerous for drivers when they can’t clearly see what’s in front of them.
Dangers Road and Intersection Design
Los Angeles is home to many poorly designed intersections. Municipalities must ensure that their roadways are properly designed, including intersections. Some of the many examples of dangerous intersection designs that can cause accidents include the following:
- Designing a road with an overly sharp curve
- Failing to post adequate warning signs
- Failing to post guardrails and barriers along hazardous stretches of the road
- Designing a road that doesn’t provide a clear view of traffic
- Providing insufficient road drainage
- Failure to install or maintain traffic signals at intersections
- Failure to protect against roadside hazards such as rock slides and mud
Who Is Liable for Injuries Caused By Road Hazards?
As a road hazard accident victim, you may be entitled to compensation for your past and future medical expenses, property damage, loss of future income, pain and suffering, and other damages. You must determine which party or parties are at fault or liable for your injuries to recover damages. An attorney can help you decide who is liable for your injuries. Government agencies, municipalities, negligent drivers, auto parts manufacturers, distributors, or other third parties may be liable.
Pursuing a Claim Against a Government Entities
If a road hazard has injured you, you may have the right to bring a claim against the city responsible for the hazard. Filing a lawsuit against a city, town, county, or other municipality differs from bringing a lawsuit against a private citizen. There are usually strict filing deadlines for providing proper notice of your claim against a municipality. It’s crucial that you discuss your case with an attorney as soon as possible so you don’t miss the deadline and lose your ability to pursue compensation from the municipality whose negligence caused your injuries.
Discuss Your Case with a Road Hazard Accident Attorney in Los Angeles
Road hazards can cause significant injuries with long-lasting implications. If you or your loved one have been seriously injured in a car accident caused by a road hazard, the attorneys at Saeedian Law Group are here to help. We will carefully evaluate your case and help you understand your legal options. Contact Saeedian Law Group to learn how we can fight for you and your right to compensation.
