Road debris accidents occur when objects that don’t belong on the road cause harm. Road debris can result from any number of sources, both vehicular and non-vehicular. Examples include:
Road debris is hazardous to drivers, cyclists, and even pedestrians. Accidents caused by road debris usually happen when a driver hits the object itself, or when a driver swerves to avoid the object and hits another vehicle or another object.
A few questions to ask that can help determine who is at fault for a road debris accident are:
When an object falls off of a vehicle and into the road, the driver often does not notice and immediately drives away, making it difficult to assign blame to the party who dumped the debris.
In some cases, the government can take responsibility for the accident. If the public entity in charge of that road had proper notice of the road hazard, and had ample time to take measures to protect against the hazard and failed to do so, then they may be at fault.
To avoid a road debris accident, one should always:
However, identifying the at-fault party can be a difficult process, especially when the at-fault party leaves the scene of the accident. In such situations, it can be virtually impossible to find him or her. Nevertheless, victims can seek compensation through their insurance company or, if there is sufficient evidence, file a civil lawsuit.
If the government knew about the hazard on the road but failed to fix it in time, it can be held liable. For example, if the highway department ignored complaints about litter on the highway, the victim can file a lawsuit against the city. It’s important to keep in mind that filing a lawsuit against government agencies is often subject to strict deadlines. There are also specific procedural requirements. Therefore, it is important to contact an attorney early.
Focus on data from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Every year, thousands of accidents are caused by litter on the roadways. These accidents can have very serious consequences. Such as:
Debris falling from trucks is particularly dangerous. Also, poorly secured objects on passenger vehicles. They can become an unexpected hazard at high speeds. The driver has only a fraction of a second to react to keep himself and his passengers alive.
In addition to the driver who directly collides with debris, other road users are often affected. For example, in an attempt to avoid hitting the object, the driver may swerve into the oncoming lane. He or she may hit a pedestrian or collide with another vehicle. Thus, one thrown object can cause a chain reaction and multiple lawsuits.
If you have been injured in a road debris accident, it is important to act quickly. It is recommended that you:
The attorneys at KAASS LAW have extensive experience in car accident cases. We help clients deal with:
If you or a loved one has been injured in a litter accident, contact KAASS LAW at (310) 943-1171 for a free consultation. We will carefully review the circumstances of your case and recommend a strategy that is in your best interest. Our staff speaks Spanish, Armenian, Russian, and French.
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