Did a Poorly Designed Road Cause your Accident?

When most people get on the road each day to drive to and from work or to pick up their kids from school, they expect the roads to be safe to drive on. We do not even consider that a bad road may be the reason for a car accident. However, if a road is improperly designed, if road signs are not clear or if a road is not properly maintained, these factors can lead to accidents and severe injuries for the ones you love. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident and you believe a poorly built road or inadequate maintenance may have been the cause and the government knew about the problem, then you should speak to one of our Tennessee car accident and personal injury lawyers with the Higgins Firm. We will listen to your case, help you get any compensation you may be entitled to and make sure the party responsible is held accountable for their actions.

Roadway Defects That May Cause an Accident

As a Tennessee car accident lawyer might explain to you, it can be difficult to determine whether a collision has been caused by a road defect or rather just a standard bump in the road. Although a lawyer should review the facts of the case, there are certain defects that might help you to understand whether legal action could be taken against the city, government agencies, road repair companies, or other related entities. Examples of road defects include:

• Potholes that should have been repaired
• Faulty road design
• Debris that should have been removed
• Excessive gravel or oil
• Inadequate warning signs
• Poorly posted signs
• Defective street lights
• Dangerous intersections
• Malfunctioning traffic signals

The cause of an accident might not always be clear. A collision might at first seem to be the fault of a driver when it was actually a road defect. Because of this, it is important to call upon the help of a skilled car accident lawyer for road defects in Tennessee.

Who is Liable if an Accident is Caused by a Poorly Built Road or Defective Traffic Device?

In some cases, the government or construction company that built the road may be held responsible if an accident is due to a poorly built road, inadequate maintenance of that road or a defect in a traffic light or device. In order to hold the government responsible, proof must be given that the government had ownership of the road that caused the accident and control over it. The road must also be considered to have had a problem or been likely to pose a danger to the public. The government must have known about the problem or potential danger before the accident took place.

It is usually fairly easy to provide proof that the government owns and has control over a road. Proving that a poorly built road or another factor such as a malfunctioning traffic light caused an accident means that you have to get an expert to show that the road had a problem or was dangerous. Finally, proving that the government knew about the problem or danger is often the most difficult. It must be proven that the government could have known about the problem or danger if they had done their research or tested out the road before having people use it. It may be helpful to have information about how many accidents have occurred on that road or in that area as this information typically makes it easier to prove that the government had prior knowledge of the problem.

How Can a Tennessee Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyer Help With my Case?

There are many factors that may be linked to the cause of an accident. If one of these factors is a poorly designed road, a malfunctioning traffic light, a road sign, or just poor maintenance on a road owned by the government, then should contact one of our experienced and compassionate car accident and personal injury lawyers at the Higgins Firm to help you with your case. These cases can be confusing and complicated and our lawyers have the knowledge that is needed to prove that the government knew about the danger and failed to provide proper warnings and safety to drivers. We will review your case and answer any questions you may have. We will then gather any evidence or experts that may be needed and work with you to see to it that you receive any compensation you may need for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and any loss of income you may have experienced because of your injuries.

Please contact us today online or by calling 800.705.2121 to discuss your legal options.