Liability in Accidents Involving Poorly Maintained Roads

• January 26, 2021
• Highway Defects

Each year, thousands of miles of our roadways need some type of repair, leaving drivers to navigate dangerous road conditions and hazards. The upkeep and maintenance of our roads fall to the Dept. of Transportation in each state. In Missouri, that agency would be MoDOT.

MoDOT plans, designs, constructs, and maintains 33,832 miles of highways and 10,397 bridges, making it the nation’s seventh-largest state highway system. Maintenance includes routine inspections and fixing things that do not conform to code. It includes maintaining basic safety measures, such as salting or sanding the roads and making sure the stripes are properly painted.

Liability in Accidents Involving Poorly Maintained Roads

Potholes lead to dangerous roadways

Accidents involving highway defects and poorly maintained roads can be extremely challenging. In some cases when a driver causes an accident because of a pothole, damaged guardrail, or missing roadway sign, the state is liable for damages. But that may not always be the case.

Roads are designed, built, and maintained by a number of organizations. That could include private organizations, municipalities, counties, states, and the federal government.

Local, state, and federal agencies are required to design safe roads. This means all roads must comply with the standards set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). In addition, all roadway signage must comply with the standards set by the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).

Poor maintenance on our Kansas City roadways creates dangerous conditions for motorists. Sometimes a roadway maintenance issue can make a crash much worse than it would otherwise have been. Because these cases can be complex and involve governmental or multiple parties, the best advice is to retain the services of a personal injury attorney, like Nash & Franciskato, who has experience dealing with these entities.

Contact us today for a free review of your case.

Dangers of Improperly Maintained Roads

Unmaintained roadways are some of the most common causes for accidents and include problems such as:

• Missing roadway signs
• Construction hazards poorly marked construction zones and failure to warn about construction worksites
• Failure to repair potholes, medians, and other roadway defects
• Missing or damaged guardrails
• Overgrown vegetation blocking the view of the road or a sign
• Rust and corrosion on older bridges
• Untreated roads in winter weather
• Improper or failure to maintain traffic signals
• And much more

Have questions? Contact us at (877) 284-6600.

Why Hire Nash & Franciskato?

Have you been seriously injured in a car or truck accident where some sort of highway defect or poorly maintained roads were part of the cause? Call Nash & Franciskato at (877) 284-6600. We have a successful track record of helping accident victims collect the compensation they deserve.

In the Kansas City area and across Missouri, the Nash & Franciskato Law Firm will fight for your rights. Contact our legal team today at (877) 284-6600. One of our experienced staff will speak with you personally and will provide you with a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

CONTACT US FOR A FREE REVIEW OF YOUR CASE

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Find related blog articles: Automobile Accidents, Construction Work and Highway Defects

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