Dangerous Road Conditions

Although another driver’s recklessness often plays a role in causing car accidents, in some cases, the road conditions themselves can result in traffic accidents and serious injuries. In some car accidents, the dangerous road conditions – such as icy or snow-covered roads – may be unavoidable and not directly attributable to the negligence or recklessness of another party. However, in other cases, the following dangerous road conditions are likely due to the negligence or recklessness of another individual or entity:

• Dead animals left in the road
• Debris from car accidents or other traffic accidents left in the roadways (or other large debris that has fallen off of trucks left in the roadways)
• Defective traffic signals and/or lack of proper traffic safety signage
• Disabled or parked vehicles left in the road (or left on blind corners of the road)
• Inadequate lighting of roads at night
• Potholes, missing manhole covers, excessive gravel on the pavement and/or edge breaks (when two lanes are not level with each other)
• Lack of or inappropriately placed construction barriers
• Roadway construction equipment or machinery that is not properly stored when not in use

Liability When Dangerous Roadways Cause Car Accidents

In such cases, the party that can be held legally responsible for the injuries and damages caused by a resulting car accident will be the entity responsible for the upkeep and safety of the road and, specifically, may include, depending on the specific nature of the roadway hazard:

• The city or county government agency
• The Illinois Department of Transportation
• The private land owner (in the event the accident takes place on private property)
• The contractor responsible for overseeing the safety of a construction zone

When dangerous roadways cause car accidents, and the negligence or recklessness of one of the above parties is to blame, victims can secure compensation for their injuries, medical bills, ongoing treatment costs, property damage, lost wages and mental suffering by pursing a car accident lawsuit.

At the law firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C., our experienced Mount Vernon car accident lawyers have been providing client-centered representation to our Southern Illinois clients since 1950. Our trusted attorneys focus on our clients’ needs, and we do everything we can to help them get the maximum possible compensation for their injuries so they can focus on recovery and moving on with their life. If you or a loved one has sustained any type of injury due to a car accident that could have been caused by a dangerous roadway, contact us by calling (800)-553-3125 for a free, thorough assessment of your case, along with professional advice regarding the best manner in which to move forward.