Chicago Road Design Defects
Many accidents occur each year due to Chicago road design defects. This often overlooked contributor to motor vehicle accidents can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles, and may result in severe, life-changing accidents. While driver behaviors such as distracted driving and speeding may also play a part, when roads are poorly designed, governments can be held liable for the part a defective roadway plays in an accident.
For example, a road with inadequate drainage may contribute to a higher number of weather-related accidents and rear-end accidents. Unmarked dips and blind entries may lead to head-on accidents that could have been avoided with better sight lines. Furthermore, intersections with stop and yield signs that should have stoplights may cause an unusually high number of pedestrian accidents. Even in the case of some alcohol-related accidents and cell phone accidents, it is possible that absent or improper signage or an improperly graded curve partly contributed to the collision.
Mount Prospect Personal Injury Lawyers
Personal injury lawyers recognize the necessity for safe roadways. As essential as it is that the cars we drive be free of auto defects, it is equally essential that the roads we drive on be designed in a manner that gives motorists sufficient time to see, process and react to the environment around them.
To ensure that motorists have the safest environment possible, governments should ensure that the roads they build are safe and free of all types of road defects. Additionally, all roads should include signs that deliver clear, consistent messages to motorists, eliminate surprises and warn travelers of any potential hazards. When the government fails to maintain the roads, it should be held liable for common auto accident injuries that occur due to government negligence.
Compensation for Auto Accident Injuries
When motorists are injured in auto accidents due to poorly designed roadways, they have the ability to seek compensation for all of the damages they sustain due to the effects of the accident. This includes not only reimbursement for medical bills, but can also include compensation for property damage, lost wages, mental pain and suffering, and in particularly egregious cases, punitive damages that aim to punish the offending party or entity.
At Cary J. Wintroub & Associates, an auto accident attorney takes the time to thoroughly review each matter to determine whether road design may have contributed to an accident and takes the necessary steps to file a claim against the responsible government entity. If you are unsure what to do after an auto accident, and you believe that road conditions may have played a part in or were a direct cause of your auto accident, we encourage you to contact our office today at (312) 726-1021 to schedule your free consultation with an attorney.
