A person who is injured in a car accident resulting from a defect in the roadway or highway is entitled to file a claim against the responsible government entity whose job it is to maintain the streets.
The government has a duty to maintain roadways so they are safe for drivers. When someone is hurt or killed in an accident due to a known defect that should have been repaired by the city, county or state responsible, the injured person has grounds to file a legal claim.
This legal claim must be filed within six months from the date of the incident or the plaintiff will be barred from filing a claim under California statutes of limitations. So it’s important to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately if you believe you have a case.
What is a Highway or Road Defect?
California highways and freeways are maintained by cities, counties or the California Department of Transportation. Typically, the responsible entity, will regularly maintain the roadways, but this is not always the case. Even though they are responsible for ensuring the safety of drivers and pedestrians, mistakes or delays do happen.
Also, while it’s incumbent upon these government agencies to repair faulty roads upon notice of their disrepair, they may not always know or be notified about a problem until an accident occurs.
Additionally, a government agency may be held responsible for designing a road or freeway that is unsafe for motorists or pedestrians. If a particular stretch of roadway or intersection is prone to accidents that is usually an indicator that poor design or planning may be involved.
Some typical roadway defects include:
- No Guardrails on Dangerous Curves
- Potholes
- Lack of Traffic Signs
- Poor Lighting
- Uneven Pavement
- Poorly Designed Roadways
- No Shoulder
- Unrepaired Roads
Johnson Attorneys Group can determine whether you have a valid claim by offering a free consultation with an attorney. Should you choose our law firm to assist you, we will work tirelessly to bring a resolution to your claim while you focus on having a full recovery.
California Highway Defect Attorney — 1-800-235-6801
Attorney James Johnson, founder of Johnson Attorneys Group, will personally go over the merits of your potential claim to determine how to proceed. It’s important that you do not delay as there is a shorter time limit to file legal claims against government entities.
If you believe you may have a claim contact our offices at 800-235-6801 for a free consultation.
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