Governmental entities, such as cities, counties, and states are responsible by law for keeping government property reasonably safe, so that injuries do not occur as a result of dangerous conditions there. This extends to property such as roads and sidewalks.

 

Crashes can result from a variety of causes including operator error, defective vehicle products, and defective highway/roadway conditions. Sometimes one or more of the causes of these causes combine to result in the crash. Highway and Roadway design and construction errors frequently are the primary cause or a contributing cause to vehicular crashes. This means that even though a driver of a vehicle was negligent and a cause of the crash, the highway or roadway condition may also have been a contributing cause of the crash.Our roadway system is designed so that any reasonably attentive driver should be able to safely navigate it. Highway and roadway users have the right to expect that the roads that they are traveling on are designed safely, built to appropriate and safe standards, and properly maintained.Sometimes, due to faulty construction, poor design, or inadequate signage, motorists can unwittingly drive themselves directly into life-threatening situations.

 

Highway and roadway defects include:

• Failure to provide consistent and clear messages to motorist and pedestrians

• Failure to provide adequate and clear warnings regarding construction and modification

• Failure to provide clear guidance through unusual roadway conditions

• Failure to provide for guardrails or adequate guardrails

• Failure to maintain traffic control devices including traffic signs and traffic signals

• Failure to provide proper roadway lighting that creates a trap for motorist and pedestrians

• Failure to provide adequate medians

• Failure to provide adequate highway and roadway shoulders for vehicle recovery

• Failure to provide for proper abatement of vegetation

• Failure to provide warning of changing lane conditions such as lane merges or endings

• Failure to provide and maintain roadway striping and lane demarcation

• Failure to provide for proper water runoff and drainage

• Failure to maintain highway and roadway surfaces resulting in loss of vehicle control

• Failure to provide proper barricading

• Failure to allow for adequate driver perception time and reaction time

• Failure to provide for a clear and adequate sight distance (which can create a trap for motorist and pedestrians alike)

• Other highway and roadway design defects creating a dangerous condition to users

 

Similarly, the sidewalks that pedestrians walk on should be safe and free from dangerous tripping hazards.

 

Many highway and roadway cases involve changing conditions and evidence that must be preserved immediately. This may include video from highway and roadway cameras maintained by the governmental entity or local business, 911 audio recordings, photographs of construction areas or poorly maintained surface conditions.

 

At Lallande Law, PLC, we put our litigation experience to work for you in order to carefully consider all the potential sources for a just recovery and ensure important evidence is preserved and collected. We know that the only way to keep roadway planners, construction companies, and governmental agencies from allowing dangerous conditions to exist on the roads and sidewalks is to hold them accountable and ensure that they provide fair compensation for the injuries their negligence causes. In cases where governmental entities who designed, constructed, and maintained the highway, roadway, or sidewalk that caused or contributed to an incident in which someone is seriously injured or killed, Lallande Law, PLC has the expertise and experience to hold them accountable.

 

Lallande Law, PLC has represented many people who have suffered serious injuries such as broken bones, brain injuries and spinal cord injuries as the result of the dangerous design and/or negligent maintenance of public property.

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For a free initial consultation with Lallande Law PLC to discuss your injuries, fill in the contact form or call (800) 308-8800.