In some car accident scenarios, such as accidents caused by a drunk driver, responsibility for the accident is easy to identify. However, this is not the case for all accidents, especially those that occur because of a defect on or near a roadway.
Accidents resulting from roadway defects can occur in a number of ways and can result in both single-vehicle or multiple-vehicle accidents, and some of the most unfortunately common roadway defects that drivers may encounter include the following:
- Water pooling
- Shoulder drop-off
- Objects on the roadway
- Potholes
- Uneven pavement
- Lack of / broken guardrails
- Lack of necessary signs
- Construction negligence
When problems like these arise, resulting in an accident, many accident victims find themselves wondering who is responsible for the unnecessary pain and suffering they have been forced to endure.
In most instances, responsibility for accidents caused by roadway defects lies with the municipality in charge of maintaining that stretch of road. Whether a local or state entity, some administrative body maintains most roadways, and a legal professional such as a car accident lawyer may be able to help accident victims identify the precise entity responsible for maintaining the roadway on which they were injured.
One major exception to this generalization is when an accident occurs because of unsafe conditions on or near a roadway construction site. There are numerous dangers that can be found in construction zones, and in most cases, it is a construction company’s responsibility to keep these work zones free from dangers that could affect unsuspecting passersby. When accidents do occur because of hazardous conditions, responsibility usually lies with the construction company in charge of the site.
