We enjoy some of the best maintained and designed roads here in Mississippi, unfortunately, we also have some of the worst. Devastating accidents, injuries, and death can occur when contractors, or the state or local government builds or maintains a road negligently. I frequently receive calls from people who have been injured by dangerous roadways, especially roads that are being repaired or repaved. I wrote the following blog post to help those who have questions about the most common types of roadway dangers that I see.
If you have been injured, you must find experienced counsel to help you attain your fair share of compensation for your loss of income and injury. Barrett Law has the experience to help you if you have been injured. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.
Improper Striping
The stripes on the road that we all follow are usually pretty clear. That said, I frequently see clients who were injured when new striping was put on a newly paved part of a road while the old striping was on another section of the roadway. The new striping can confuse and divert cars into oncoming traffic’s lanes. In other instances, new striping directed cars off the roadway or into construction vehicles. If a construction company negligently allowed striping to confuse and injure drivers, it may provide a basis for a successful negligence claim.
Unmarked Turns or Dangers
Like striping, signs are supposed to direct traffic safely and help drivers avoid dangers on or alongside the roadway. When roads are newly build or repaved, however, signs or sign positions may not be updated to reflect current road conditions. I have seen cases here in Mississippi where a road sign was posted over 100 yards after the hazard it was supposedly warning drivers about. If a sign is that poorly posted and results in an accident, injury, or death, the victim likely has a strong negligence claim against the business or agency responsible for its faulty posting.
Low Road Shoulders or Drop Offs
We have all driven down a road and accidentally drifted onto the road’s shoulder. This is usually an inconsequential event, and we correct our steering so that the car returns to the road’s center. But when a road is improperly designed and marked, the shoulder may be too steep and sudden, prohibiting the driver from returning to the roadway or causing him or her to lose control of their vehicle. Some roads have steep or no shoulders but should have signs warning drivers about this hazard. This may be a road design or road marking failure and may lead to a successful negligence claim if the car’s passengers are injured as a result.
Superelevation
We have all seen extreme examples of superelevation on raceways or when we built electric car tracks as children—a raised outer road edge keeps cars on the road as they go around turns fast. The same concept applies on highways, and superelevation means that the outside edge of a road’s curve should be higher to help keep cars on the road that are traveling at higher speeds. Older roads may not have superelevation, and paving projects may inadvertently reduce the degree of superelevation necessary on a roadway, making it more dangerous. A negligence claim may succeed if a driver is injured because a curve that required superelevation lacked it.
What Should You Do If A Dangerous Roadway has injured you or a Loved One?
If a dangerous roadway injured you or a loved one, you might have a viable claim for compensation for your injuries, loss of work, and other harm. Let experienced personal injury counsel take care of preserving medical records, attaining expert opinions regarding the roadway’s safety, and dealing with opposing attorneys. These are essential tasks that a personal injury attorney can handle for you while you concentrate on healing.
Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you have suffered an injury due to a dangerous roadway. Contact us now at (800) 707-9577.