Mike Rainwater on…

Do You Need a Lawyer After a Car Accident?

It can take weeks or even months to understand the full impact of your car accident. Lost wages, car repairs, and medical bills start to pile up — along with additional expenses you couldn’t have planned for. Having a lawyer by your side will ensure that these longer-term costs are taken into consideration when fighting for a fair insurance payout.

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Accidents caused by poor road or highway design

Poor highway design is more common than many people believe. These defects and flaws in the road can cause serious and fatal accidents in Arkansas and Tennessee. Mistakes can occur at any point during the design, building, or maintaining of the highways. Construction errors can lead to joints popping up on the road, faulty repair jobs can result in increased potholes, and design flaws can result in sharp and deadly turns.

Some of the most common types of poor highway designs are:

  • Blind curves
  • Poor guardrail placement or broken guardrails
  • Poor geological consideration
  • Steep shoulders
  • No shoulders

  • Damaged or missing signs
  • Roads not treated properly for snow or ice
  • Poor lighting
  • Poorly maintained streets
  • Poorly designed intersections

  • Curves not graded properly
  • Bad exit ramps
  • Median barrier flaws
  • Landscaping which obstructs vision

Poor highway design can cause serious and fatal accidents.

Here are some real-world examples of poor road design and how they can cause an accident.

  • A guardrail that has not been properly placed or one that is broken will not protect vehicle occupants from injury during a crash. It can even cause the car to flip over the guardrail, leading to more catastrophic injuries.
  • Potholes may seem like no big deal, but if you hit a bad pothole while traveling 55 mph on a highway, you could lose control of your car or have a tire blowout. This can cause you to run off the road or into other vehicles.
  • Dangerous intersections may have malfunctioning lights, or there may be foliage obstructing your vision of traffic signs. This can cause you to run through the intersection and into oncoming traffic.
  • A shoulder on the road is intended to provide a safe area for drivers if they need to pull over or if their car is malfunctioning. Inadequate shoulders could put your car in danger and may not allow you to exit your vehicle safely.

Who Is at Fault for Accidents Caused by Poor Road Design?

Government agencies in Arkansas and Tennessee have a responsibility to design, build, and maintain the roads in these communities. If you believe that your accident was caused by poor highway design or maintenance, you may be able to file a claim against the appropriate government entity or the construction company that failed to meet the expected standard of care.

Typically, in order to find fault, you must clearly establish that the road was designed or built with flaws or defects. If your accident was caused by improper road maintenance, you must show that the government entity knew or should have known that the road needed repair or maintenance and then failed to take appropriate action.

If your claim is against the government entity, you must act quickly. Car accident victims only have a short amount of time to file a lawsuit against a government agency. As such, it is important to speak to an experienced and skilled car accident attorney immediately.

We’re There When You Need Us

After an accident, it’s difficult to know where to turn for help. Bills start to add up, paperwork becomes a burden, and insurance companies don’t have your best interest at heart. Thankfully, our team does.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident and you believe that poor road design caused your crash, speak to an experienced and skilled car accident lawyer immediately. Poor road design cases are complex and require a law firm with the experience and resources needed to fight these difficult claims. With eight offices in Arkansas - Little Rock, Little Rock-Corporate Hill, Springdale, Conway, Hot Springs, Bryant, Jacksonville, and Jonesboro – our car accident attorneys fight aggressively for your future and will negotiate with the auto insurance companies on your behalf every step of the way.

We’re here to help.

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