Teen in Critical Condition Following Accident on Dangerous Road in Cotati
Caltrans and local agencies’ failure to make sure that roads are safe have long been criticized by California dangerous road accident lawyers. A 17 year old girl is the latest victim to receive serious injuries because of unsafe road conditions. These types of accidents have headlined the news recently after a series of accidents resulted in one fatality and several injuries on the San Francisco Bay Bridge.
The most recent accident involving the unidentified 17 year old happened as the girl traveled in a Honda Sedan and attempted to turn left, running into the path of an oncoming Chevrolet. She was riding on the passenger side of the car, which received the full impact of the crash. She suffered serious injuries. Only a few weeks ago, on October 16th, a fatal crash occurred on the same road. In this crash, a Santa Rosa resident died due to a rear end collision, that sent the car sailing into a big truck. Not long after, safety enhancements were called for by city and county officials to be made to the dangerous intersection. Someone involved in a similar situation should immediately (after receiving medical treatment) contact a California catastrophic injury lawyer
Each year, thousands of motorists are killed all over the country even though many have followed all traffic rules. Dangerous stretches of road are often to blame; some need maintenance and repair, and others are simply not designed well or are constructed poorly. Even though many fatalities occur, this is still not enough for many roads to be considered dangerous officially. A road often will not be declared unsafe until a list of conditions is met, and only then may it be eligible for repairs. An enormous amount of roads need repair and enhancements, but resources are limited and not all roads, bridges or intersections that need work may be eligible. Many times the determining factor in whether repairs or construction is done is how much the road is trafficked, and how many serious accidents have taken place recently, among other things.
It is a shame that more accidents and fatalities may occur on these same roads before bureaucratic wrangling is finished. The process for declaring a road dangerous is a long one that involves thorough investigations, and this can continue for months before determining if the road is eligible for enhancements.
All too often roads are designed in a way that can limit visibility and raise the risk of accidents occuring. Construction is often not done to standards, and maintenance of these roads may not be done on a regular basis. Potholes, bad lighting and bumpy or uneven road surfaces can all lead to accidents involving injuries or even fatalities. State, county and local agencies responsible for design and maintaining roads can often be held responsible when claims involving dangerous roads are filed. Other third parties may be to blame as well, such as utility and construction companies.
The Reeves Law Group has offices across California, and is dedicated to represent personal injury victims, including victims of dangerous roads. Please contact us for a free consultation at (800) 644-8000.