You have to be cautious around more than just other motor vehicle drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians on the Maryland road. But you may also have to worry about unexpectedly encountering road hazards. Continue reading to learn what road hazards can lead to an accident and how an experienced Landover auto accident lawyer at The Law Office of Conrad W. Judy III, LLC can help you hold the correct party liable.
What road hazards commonly lead to car accidents?
Some road hazards are simply beyond any driver’s control. For instance, inclement weather conditions may inhibit a driver’s visibility on the road and leave them unable to identify a safe area to pull over to. Or, an animal may even randomly jump out in front of a driver and cause them to suddenly brake. Also, a sudden tire blowout may cause a driver to serve out of control.
But other times, road hazards exist due to negligence. Examples of road hazards that commonly lead to car accidents are as follows:
- Large potholes or cracks on a Maryland road.
- Loose debris on a Maryland road.
- Uneven expansion joints on a Maryland bridge.
- Slick roads after a heavy snowstorm.
- Standing water after a heavy rainstorm.
Who is legally liable for a road hazard?
There may be a party to blame for the aforementioned road hazards. For one, a government entity, or one of its workers, may be responsible for ensuring that large potholes and cracks are patched up in a timely manner. In addition, they are in charge of ordering roads to be clear of loose debris, such as fallen branches and powerlines, after a heavy rainstorm. They must also order roads to be plowed and salted after a heavy rainstorm.
A government entity that fails to take immediate action when there is a potentially hazardous condition on a Maryland road may be held legally liable via a personal injury claim. If you are pursuing this legal route, you may need to first send them a Notice of Claim.
On the other hand, a construction company, or one of its workers, may be responsible for ensuring that loose debris from their construction zone does not land into traffic. This means that they must put up adequate warning signs and barricades, along with other safety measures.
What’s more, standing water is a sign of a negligently designed road that is unreasonably dangerous. So if this was your case, then you may direct your legal action toward a construction company.
It would help if you remembered that there is a countdown for when you are eligible to bring forward a personal injury claim. In turn, it would help if you did not wait too long before contacting a Landover auto accident lawyer from The Law Office of Conrad W. Judy III, LLC.
