Defective Road Design and Conditions
The National Highway System comprises over 160,000 miles of highway, which accounts for only four percent of the nation's roads. As this labyrinth of roads has aged, it requires tremendous effort to maintain and upgrade the highway system for safety. The United States Department of Transportation, along with its counterpart state agencies, and advisory organizations have analyzed data related to motor vehicle accidents to pinpoint critical areas for improvement. Findings by the Federal Highway Administration have highlighted lane departures, traffic congestion and pedestrian safety as priorities to decrease fatalities and severe injuries on our nation's roads.
After a serious highway accident involving a defective road design or condition, you need experienced counsel. A personal injury attorney can advice you on your claims and rights to compensation.
Lane Departures
Lane departures cause accidents and injury when motorists unexpectedly change lanes requiring other drivers to take evasive action, leave the roadway and strike objects or rollover, or cross a median or center-line creating a head-on collision. Inattentive driving, lack of signage, rough surfaces, roadside hazards such as poles and trees, improperly designed curves and monotonous stretches of roads have all contributed to lane departure accidents that can be severe, or even fatal.
Congestion
Gridlock, last-second left turns, red-light runners, merging traffic, work zone lane changes. These annoyances contribute to traffic congestion and driver fatigue, and can result in injuries and fatalities. Crowded intersections can be scenes of conflict as drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians all converge to test of the rules of the road. In fact, the Federal Highway Administration reports that almost half of all accidents and injuries occur at intersections.
Pedestrian Safety
People walk in their communities for convenience, work and recreation. Pedestrians have as much right to the road as any other group using our streets and highways, but unfortunately, in a pedestrian-automobile collision, the pedestrian always loses. As the need for alternative forms of transportation increases, more walkers and bicyclists will need to share the road with cars and trucks. Communities must make their streets more walker-friendly to be more livable.
Conclusion
Who is responsible for safer roads and highways? Federal and state agencies bear the responsibility for planning and maintaining safe roads. New designs and improvements to existing infrastructure can make roads safer to navigate and decrease conflict among drivers. Ultimately, each driver must look out for other motorists and travelers on the road and exercise caution while driving. If you were injured or a family member was killed in a congested intersection or any accident caused by dangerous road design or conditions, contact a personal injury attorney to talk about your personal injury claims.
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