Who Is Responsible for a Car Accident Caused by Dangerous Florida Road Conditions?
Anytime a car accident takes place, possible contributing factors could include other drivers, inclement weather, or a mechanical issue with one of the vehicles involved. Occasionally, a car accident can also occur due to poor road conditions.
Who is held accountable for this kind of accident? Is there any way for you to collect financial compensation for your Tampa car accident damages?
Non-Weather Road Conditions That Can Cause an Accident
When drivers imagine hazardous road conditions, most of them probably think about bad weather, like snow or rain. Although these are genuine dangers for drivers, there are many non-weather-related road conditions that greatly increase a driver’s odds of being in an accident. For example:
- Road Debris
Road debris can be hard to see on a roadway with traffic moving at a high rate of speed, particularly after dark when visibility is already limited. Standard kinds of road debris may include vehicle parts, tires, household objects, and even campers, trailers, or other objects that might have been improperly secured and come dislodged from the vehicles towing it.
- Potholes
Some potholes can be quite large; enough to cause serious damage to your vehicle. If a driver does not see the pothole in time to slow down, it could also cause a driver to lose control of his or her car.
- Lack of Road Maintenance
Routine road maintenance is essential for driver safety, particularly on heavily trafficked roadways. Small problems are frequently left unattended and develop into much larger issues, which may still not be fixed until after an accident has happened. Road hazards that are usually caused by inadequate road care include:
- Eroded asphalt or pavement
- Missing roadside signage
- Unmanicured shrubbery
- Missing or damaged guardrails
- Out-of-order stop lights
- Faded street markings
Who May Be Liable for Injuries Caused by Poor Road Conditions?
Establishing liability for a car accident that was caused by hazardous road conditions on state or local roads varies. Some frequently liable parties could be:
- Another driver: If an insufficiently maintained vehicle or poorly fastened objects, like furniture, a mattress, or other household object caused the accident.
- Truck operators, truck owners, or other persons involved in the trucking industry: For overloaded trailers, poorly fastened cargo, tire blow-outs, unfastened trailers, and more.
- A government entity: If badly maintained roadways, such as a one with a damaged or missing guardrail or a large, unrepaired pothole, could have caused your accident.
At Fulgencio Law, our Tampa car accident attorneys understand how different kinds of car accidents can be caused by road hazards, like uneven pavement or potholes, and we know the most efficient way to establish who is responsible for your injuries and other damages.
If you have concerns about how you are going to deal with the economic hardships caused by missing income, hospital bills, and damages to your vehicle after an accident caused by a road hazard, our licensed Florida personal injury attorneys are here to help.
If you would like to discuss your potential legal options, reach out to our law office by calling (813)463-0123 and schedule a free consultation of your Tampa car accident claim today.
