How does Poor Road Design Affect a Car Accident Case?

Call accidents can be caused in multiple ways. One of the most common ways in which these accidents occur is due to dangerous road conditions. When government agencies and officials approve poor road designs, car accidents can happen far more often.

If poor road design was responsible for causing your injuries, you might have the opportunity to hold the liable parties accountable and recover maximum compensation for your damages. Below, we go into further detail about what to expect from your poor road design insurance and civil claims.

Ways Poor Road Designs Cause Car Accidents 

Poor road designs cause car accidents more often than you might expect. This is, in part, because road designs can take many forms and often vary widely depending on the type of area you live in. 

For example, the structure for a major highway or interstate would be substantially different than the road design through an urban or residential area. With that in mind, here are some of the most common causes of poor road design accidents:

Lack of Pedestrian Crosswalks

A lack of sufficient pedestrian crosswalks is one of the most common causes of walking injuries. Other potential issues include pedestrian crosswalks placed at inconvenient locations or spaced too far apart. This requires pedestrians to go out of their way to cross the street safely, thereby encouraging them to jaywalk or take risks crossing busy multi-lane roads.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, pedestrian crosswalks should exist at almost all direct crossing locations. This is true even if there is no traffic light at the intersection. Road designers should also place pedestrian crosswalks near bus stops and other transit areas.

Too Wide or Narrow Roads 

Generally, standard motor vehicles are an average of 70 to 80 inches in width. Road designers should formulate their plans with this number in mind. The width of the roadway will depend on the area being designed. For example, urban roads may be as much as 13 feet wide. 

However, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), roads are safest at lane widths of 10 feet. Lane widths only need to exceed this if they are designed for trucks or buses. 

With older roadway sections following older laws, accidents are more likely to occur in these areas. Traditionally, if a road design includes widths of less than 9 feet, the risk of sideswipe accidents and head-on collisions can dramatically increase.

Insufficient Shoulder Space

The shoulder of a lane is also commonly known as a breakdown lane. This is an area of major roadways that allows motorists to pull over and deal with unexpected situations safely. It also allows emergency responders to get through congested traffic when traveling to an accident. 

However, when these roads do not have a shoulder or lack sufficient space, it may increase the likelihood of accidents when there is nowhere else for a vehicle to pull over when they break down or are involved in an emergency.

Outdated and Confusing Road Designs

Whether a motorist is a native to the area or a visitor, it is vital for road signs and designs to be easily navigable. However, when signs are confusing, there are multiple one-way streets, or lanes are too narrow, it can create confusion among drivers, lead to congestion, and cause catastrophic car accidents.

Inadequate Drainage

Road designs should always take drainage into consideration. This not only includes drainage from inclement weather but also from car washes or leaking fire hydrants. With insufficient planning to remove water from the roadway, the likelihood of hydroplaning dramatically increases. 

Liability in Poor Road Design Injury Claims

Your car accident lawyer will be responsible for figuring out who should be held accountable when poor road designs are the cause of your accident. You might be surprised to learn that multiple parties could share the blame for the injuries you sustained. These could include:

• Road designers
• Road contractors
• Government officials
• Municipalities
• Safety inspectors
• Engineers
• Other third parties

Common Types of Evidence to Prove Poor Road Design 

Establishing liability for your car accident is crucial to maximizing the compensation you recover. Generally, for a poor road design claim to be successful, your lawyer must demonstrate that the municipality, state, or other liable party had previous notice of the hazardous conditions and neglected, through action or inaction, to address the problem.

Some of the most common types of evidence used to prove negligence and poor road design include:

• A previously written road design
• A car accident report
• Photos of the collision
• Pictures of the road conditions
• Car accident history data for this particular road
• Traffic studies
• Photo logs
• Internal communications
• Desired guidelines and standards for the intended road
• Copies of the road design plans and specifications
• Road maintenance records
• Copies of the City Council’s agenda and minutes
• Complaints from the public about road design
• Road design contracts

How to Recover Maximum Compensation for Injuries Caused by Poor Road Design

To get the most out of your car accident claim based on a poor road design, you should be prepared to file a claim with the insurance company and bring your case to court. In cases like these, the liable party nearly always has some type of insurance coverage. 

However, this is often not enough to cover the victim’s damages in totality. For this reason, you might need to bring your case to trial if the liable party refuses to compensate you fairly for your suffering. Your car accident attorney will scrutinize the details of your case to determine which options will maximize your restitution.

Call a Leading Car Accident Attorney for Help Today

There is no excuse for accidents caused by poor road design. Government officials and others responsible for designing and approving these plans should be held accountable when victims suffer catastrophic and life-threatening injuries. If this sounds like what you have been through, you do not need to face those responsible for your accident alone. 

You can hold the liable party accountable for their negligence with help from a top-rated car accident attorney at Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC. Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation as soon as today when you complete our quick contact form or call our office to schedule yours today.