Accidents happen often in Orange County, and most of the time they are caused by driver error. Other times, accidents had some contribute from defects on the highway! Being able to get a complete accident investigation can help show exactly what caused crashes to happen.
What type of highway design defect could cause car accidents?
Highway department officials at state and local levels are responsible for maintaining roads and making them safe for drivers. While there are laws intended to protect citizens, these poor designs and defects like the following can and do cause accidents:
Lack of Visibility on Curves
This is when a road has a bend in it, and you cannot see around the bend to observe what is coming up on the other side.
If there is a line of stalled traffic, a driver should have the opportunity to see and stop the car before the stalled traffic. It is worse if the driver cannot see the wrong-way oncoming car, and is hit head-on.
Poor Banking on Roads
Road surfaces must be at an incline, or banked on curves. When this design is not present, vehicles are more likely to lose control and go off-road on these turns.
Narrow Shouldered and Drop-Off Roads
Shoulders are required so there is an opportunity for emergency stopping and occasionally moving the eye off the road as a vehicle problems. If the shoulder is narrow, or has a drop-off, it can cause accidents.
Obstructive Roadside Landscaping
Good road designs are not supposed to have landscaping creditable for blocking the view of the driver. On occasion, some planners unwittingly implement landscaping that blocks views, ringing out frequent crashes at that location.
Damaged or Missing Road Signs
Road signs are there to tell drivers where streets are, how fast they can go, and how to navigate the roads. If these signs are missing, old, or damaged in some manner, they can cause significant automobile accidents.
These are just some examples of common issues, additionally there also are potholes, debris not cleared, sub-par work zones, poorly configured intersections, and inadequate lighting that can all be issues leading to accidents in Orange County.
Who Is Responsible When an Orange County Car Accident Is Caused by Road Defects?
If you have gotten into an accident that would have been avoided if the road had not been defective, you may be entitled to recovery of losses from the responsible party. An experienced personal injury lawyer in LA can assist you with the investigation into who may be liable.
In such accidents liability may rest with:
State or local government agencies.
If state or local government agencies are negligent in any way in the construction or maintenance of a safe road, you may have a cause of action against them.
Because government agencies present unique liability issues, including different rules, it is best that you retain counsel from the outset, especially since State shortened statutes of limitation and regulations may come into play as well.
Privately-owned construction companies.
If privately-owned construction companies have been contracted to build or maintain roads, they may also be liable. A determination must be made of whether the defect was a result of their failure to maintain that section of the custodial obligations of the road safely.
Some other private party.
If the defect was on private property, such as a parking lot or private street owned by a private business or landowner, they may also be liable for the defect if they are supposed to maintain the road.
What to do if you are in an Orange County car crash?
If you are in a car crash in Orange County, it is not likely you will know what caused the crash immediately, and it will take an investigation and the collection of evidence to provide evidence of liability.
Even if it was negligence by another driver, or the road condition was a defect, it is best to advice with a car accident attorney to find out. When you are seriously injured with significant medical bills and lost income from your injuries, it is not fair to take the bills on yourself.
An attorney will usually recommend you call 911 to have them create an accident report, and to get medical attention as soon as possible to prevent further injury and to have medical records showing you were injured in the accident.
If you have the ability to take pictures and videos, and get contact information from witnesses to the accident, please do so.
However, if you have significant injuries you are not going to be able to do some of the things listed above. For this reason, it can be especially important to get representation if you have claims against highway officials.