On April 2, 2016, a Georgia grandmother lost three members of her family in a car accident due to a flooded road. The driver of the vehicle was unfamiliar with the area, and hydroplaned because of excessive amounts of water covering the road. It was later found that the cause of flooding was a design flaw of the highway. The family filed a lawsuit against the Georgia Department of Transportation and requested that the road be fixed to prevent future harm, however the road remains in the same condition four years later.
All drivers assume responsibility to keep themselves, passengers, and other drivers safe by following the law and paying attention on the road. The government also has a responsibility to drivers to ensure the same roads are safe to travel on. This means both the design and maintenance of roads play factors in safety conditions when traveling.
The government can be responsible for many unsafe road conditions that lead to accidents such as:
- Potholes
- Inadequate or missing road signs
- Inadequate or missing barriers or guardrails
- Hazardous construction areas
- Insufficient lane markings
- Uncleared debris
- Negligent traffic control
These conditions can lead to catastrophic accidents, especially on highways and areas prone to speeding. Drivers can lose control and harm themselves or others without proper warning of hazards on the road. Some safe practices for driving in unfamiliar areas, bad weather, or construction zones are:
- Slowing down and maintaining the speed limit
- Ensuring you have a clear view of the road at all times
- Searching for alternate routes to avoid traffic and damaged roads
Unfortunately, even the safest of drivers can fall victim to being harmed on hazardous roads. Proving these accidents can be difficult because it will be assumed the victim was driving recklessly, though that is not always the case. Contacting a skilled personal injury attorney is essential to holding those responsible for your injuries and preventing future harm to other drivers. When dealing with unsafe roadway conditions, you will be facing the government, an agency, workers, or contractors that can all assume liability for the accident caused.
Generally speaking, the government is immune from liability in personal injury lawsuits, but governmental entities can be held liable for driver’s injuries from agency or employee negligence. The state, governmental agencies, contractors, and workers must all follow specific protocols and rules when maintaining our roads. You have a right to compensation for your injuries when these rules are not followed and drivers are put at risk. Our attorneys have the resources and knowledge of the law and responsibilities surrounding those working on our roadways.
If you are injured on a dangerous road, contact our seasoned personal injury attorneys at 844-810-4357 to discuss your options for recovering your damages.
Any representations regarding the law in this Blog is made available for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and the Blog publisher. The Blog should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.