Car Accidents Caused by Road Defects in North Carolina

While most car accidents are the result of another driver’s negligence, there are many other potential causes. Weather, mechanical failures, or vehicle defects can also lead to an accident, but another common cause is defects in the road surface. These defects may be due to poor maintenance, defective design, or failure to address known hazards. If you have been injured in an accident due to a road defect, you may be entitled to compensation. These cases can be difficult for non-lawyers to pursue, but a North Carolina car accident lawyer can provide you with the guidance you need. 

Common Road Defects That Can Lead to Car Accidents

A considerable amount of time, money, and effort go into designing and maintaining roads so that they are safe for traffic. Road defects are far more common than many people realize, and many of these defects lead to a significant number of car accidents. Here are some examples of common road defects that can lead to a car accident: 

• Poor drainage
• Defective or inadequate lighting
• Potholes
• Uneven pavement
• Missing guardrails
• Missing, inadequate, or misplaced signage
• Malfunctioning traffic signals
• Poorly designed intersections and merge lanes
• Missing or faded lane markings
• Road debris
• Dangerous shoulders
• Overgrown vegetation
• Line of sight issues

These hazards can be especially dangerous on high-volume or high-speed roadways, or when encountered by an inexperienced driver or during inclement weather. 

Who Should Be Held Accountable for Your Road Defect Accident?

One of the things that makes these cases challenging is that it can be very difficult to identify who is responsible for the road defect. In some cases, there may be more than one entity that should be held responsible for your losses. Any of the following parties may be at fault for causing the accident: 

• The city or county government
• The state highway department
• The federal government
• Some other public agency
• The company or other entity that designed the road 
• The company or other entity responsible for maintaining the road or making repairs

In order to determine who may be held accountable, you need to carefully review the facts. You will also need to understand how the law applies to your case, especially when pursuing a claim against a governmental entity. You will need to prove that the government knew or should have known about the hazard and failed to take action to correct it. A North Carolina car accident attorney will be able to gather the evidence you need to make a successful claim. 

Injured Due to a Road Defect? Contact Martin & Jones

At Martin & Jones, we have decades of experience helping injured people get the compensation they need to rebuild their lives. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a road defect, give us a call at 800-662-1234 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.