Accidents Caused By Poor Road Quality
California’s highways are among the worst in the country, and poor road conditions cause accidents. Because of the roads in their deteriorating state, drivers in California cities are forced to shell out more money for the maintenance of their cars, a new study finds.
The research was led by the National Transportation Research (TRIP) group, a non-profit organization that studies and distributes economic and technical data on road transport issues, which evaluated the road conditions of 25 urban regions with at least 500,000 inhabitants. The analysis positioned Los Angeles (including Long Beach and Santa Ana) in the first and second place, respectively, in the list of U.S. cities where roads are in a poor state. The document exposes the shortcomings in U.S. road infrastructure and suggests that nearly one-third of the country’s major urban roads, including local and interstate highways, bridges and other circulatory routes, have pavement that is poor and provides an unacceptable and rugged ride to motorists.
What are the causes of poor road conditions? You may also be wondering, can you file a lawsuit for accidents due to poor road conditions?
Avrek Law has more than 50 years experience fighting for personal injury clients, and we’ve recovered more than $1 Billion in settlements and judgements. Thousands of people are hurt or killed each year due to poor road conditions. If you have been injured in this type of accident, it’s in your best interest to speak to a knowledgeable car accident attorney to discuss your case.
What Causes Bad Road Conditions?
The importance of roads for development and human relations has had the main objective of the promotion of knowledge in the construction and maintenance of these structures. In general, the initial purpose of a road is to unite cities and destinations through an easily accessible path. However, taking the technical literature on bridge classifications into account, it is necessary to consider design aspects, such as the obstacles to overcome, lateral views, number of free spaces, materials and nature of traffic.
In general, it is recognized that there is generally a greater emphasis on large roads with complex structural systems, all the while without adequately considering small and medium-sized roads. Yet thousands of small roads connect countless people, giving them access to needed resource opportunities and a flow of production.
Unfortunately, it is possible that most of the rural and urban roads present critical pathological conditions, putting at risk the security of society and producing economic losses. These bad road conditions include uneven pavement, fluctuations in temperature that damage the asphalt, and wear and tear.
Accidents Caused by Poor Road Conditions
- Confusing or damaged road signs
- Blind curves and poorly banked roads
- Lack of traffic signals
- Broken guardrails
- Low bridges, incorrect bridge markings
- No nighttime lighting
- Poor landscaping
Why Should Single Car Accidents Be Investigated?
If the road on which you were traveling presented any irregularities or had faulty maintenance, and that caused you to suffer an accident while driving your personal car, you can file a lawsuit with the government agency responsible for the maintenance of that road.
This is why it is important to investigate single car accidents: Determining the safety of a road could help prevent further accidents and help you gather enough evidence to fill a claim. Things like tire blowouts can cause fatal car crashes, and sometimes a road that isn’t properly maintained can cause the blowout. After an accident due to poor road conditions, be sure to get a police report documenting what happened and if need be you can fight the report.
Who is Responsible For Maintaining Roads, Freeways, Bridges in California?
The California highway and highway network is critical to the quality of life and for the economy of the state. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is a California State Government Agency responsible for controlling the state’s highways, and it does not have sufficient funds to address these critical shortcomings:
- Local roads and highways are facing a $78 billion maintenance deferred and an annual deficit of $7.8 billion
- CalTrans faces $59 billion in labor costs deferred and an annual deficit of $5.7 billion in the Operation and Protection of State Roads (SHOPP)
The degree of deterioration of the roads in California is staggering:
- Californian demolished roads cost motorists $762 annually
- California ranks second in the country in terms of the highest number of roads in “bad conditions”
- 58% of state highways need rehabilitation or maintenance of pavement
- California has 4 out of 5 cities with the worst road conditions in the country
- 55% of local bridges require rehabilitation or replacement
- Almost 70% of California’s highways and freeways are congested
- Without additional funding, a quarter of local roads will be in deteriorating condition in 2024
Worst Roads in California That Need Maintenance
Uneven or bumpy roads are typical in Los Angeles. It is very common that you find holes in the streets if you travel around the city, and the TRIP report revealed that California is number one in terms of having the worst road conditions in the country. TRIP analyzed the condition of major urban roads in the United States using figures from the Federal Highway Administration.
The research found that 71% of the roads are in poor condition in the cities of San Francisco and Oakland, putting them first on the ranking. For the second place, there are three cities tied: Los Angeles, Long Beach and Santa Ana, each with 60% of their roads in bad condition. The third place corresponds to San Jose, which has 59% of its roads in similar conditions.
Each year this administration asks transportation officials how they qualify their local highways. During 2016, a third of all roads were rated as bad while another 39% were mediocre. Only a total of 28% of roads were given a good rating and that number was reduced when rural roads were added.
These poor road conditions are a problem because the amount of drivers and the hours they drive continue to increase. As the economy improves and gasoline prices fall, more drivers are motivated to drive for a longer time, which damages the roads. TRIP reported that in the past 15 years, drivers have increased by 15%.
This also means an increase in the number of freight trucks on the roads. This type of vehicle causes more damage than small ones. Bad road conditions are not only dangerous, but also expensive. The cost is divided between cities and drivers, and with such high percentages, the problem of bad road conditions in California can no longer be ignored.
The TRIP report concluded that short-time repairs will not be sufficient and that preventive measures should be applied to prolong the life of the roads. Every hole or bump you hit affects your car, increases the gas it requires, and contributes to the potential of damaging your vehicle.
Who to Call When Poor Road Condition Cause Accidents?
If you have been injured in one of the many accidents caused by poor road conditions, it’s important to speak with a reputable attorney about your next steps. It can be complicated to fight with the insurance companies once you’ve been injured in a car accident, and you shouldn’t do it alone.
When you want the best personal injury attorney to discuss your poor road conditions claim, Avrek Law can help you understand your legal options. The consultation is free, and you’ll get expert advice from a law firm with $1 Billion recovered in over 45,000 cases. Contact us today – we’re here to help each and every client that we represent.
