Syracuse, New York: Car Accidents Caused By Road Defects

Road Defects Can Pose Serious Risks to Drivers Across Onondaga County. Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer and an American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year, is Committed to Protecting the Rights of Car Crash Victims Across the Region. Our Team of Highly Experienced Attorneys Could Help You Secure the Compensation You Need to Reclaim Your Independence After a Car Crash Caused By a Road Defect.

Upstate New York has some of the best roads in the country, as well as with some of the worst. Between crumbling bridges and buckled highways, some roads and routes pose risks that cannot be avoided.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C., believes that no one should have to pay the price for an accident caused by a road defect. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to beat the odds and overcome even the most vigorous defense, and we have the results to prove it.

Since our founding in 2005, we have helped our clients in Syracuse and across the region obtain more than $250 million in damages. We could help you, too. Please send us a message online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a road defect accident lawyer and schedule your 100% free consultation.

A road defect is any undesirable and unexpected condition that could compromise the safety of road users.

Defects come in a variety of forms and affect roads in many different ways. Some defects relate to inconsistencies in physical structures, such as warped pavement, buckled concrete, or surface pitting. Others are caused by poor design choices and improper maintenance, a missing traffic control device at a notoriously dangerous intersection, or a local government’s failure to replace a guardrail.

Common examples of road defects include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. High-speed curves that are banked at an inappropriately high or low angle;
2. Inadequate lighting;
3. Poor or insufficient drainage;
4. Large potholes that were never repaired; and
5. Faded roadway markings and lines.

Nobody knows exactly how many accidents are caused by road defects. However, a recent statistical summary released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identifies “environment-related critical reasons” as a factor in more than 50,000 accidents, all of which were reported over the course of a single year.

Some of the most frequently observed environmental factors included the following:

1. Obstructions to view;
2. Poor highway conditions;
3. Defective traffic signs and traffic control signals; and
4. Improper road design.

Determining fault in a road defect-related accident can be very difficult, especially when more than one vehicle is involved. This is because road defects can not only cause multi-car crashes, but also worsen the effects of a collision triggered by another driver’s negligence.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you or a loved one investigate the causes and circumstances of your Onondaga County car accident, identifying the right defendants, and ensuring that everyone whose negligence contributed to your collision is held liable. Please send us a message online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a road defect lawyer near Syracuse and begin exploring your options for effective legal relief.

The potential defendants in a road defect claim could include any of the following:

1. A negligent driver;
2. A construction contractor who was responsible for designing, constructing, or maintaining a defective road surface; or
3. The city, state, or county government agency responsible for designing, constructing, or maintaining a defective road surface.

Any one or more of the above parties could be named as a defendant in a road defect-related lawsuit. However, negotiating a fair settlement or obtaining a court-ordered reward almost always requires a combination of strong evidence and compelling legal theory. In many cases, simply being able to prove the existence of a defect is only the first step in litigating a claim.

Even if you have a seemingly open-and-shut case, proving that a construction company or government agency was responsible for a dangerous road condition can be challenging. You will likely be required to establish the following:

1. A dangerous road condition or defective road element caused your accident;
2. The construction contractor or government agency responsible for maintaining the road knew, or should have known about, the existence of the defect;
3. The defendant failed to repair, amend, or otherwise mitigate the defect within a reasonable timeframe; and
4. You suffered damages as a result of the defendant’s negligence.

Claims involving other defendants, like a reckless driver or a private property owner, are subject to different requirements, as are lawsuits involving different types of defendants.

Every car accident poses a very real risk of physical injury, financial hardship, and life-altering disability. For survivors, the costs of recovery can be steep and, more often than not, beyond the means of most Syracuse families.

You should never have to pay out-of-pocket for an accident that was not your fault. Under New York state law, car crash victims have a legal right to file a claim for compensation against the person or party who caused their injuries.

Depending on the circumstances of your Syracuse road defect-related crash, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you obtain damages for losses, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Your existing medical expenses;
2. Anticipated care needs;
3. Home care, or long-term assisted living;
4. Physical rehabilitation;
5. Lost income from work;
6. Diminished earning potential;
7. Emotional pain and suffering;
8. Loss of enjoyment;
9. Disfigurement; and
10. Wrongful death.

New York does not currently cap or otherwise limit compensation in most personal injury claims, meaning that you could receive as much money as you need to begin moving past your injuries and reclaiming your independence.

You cannot afford to delay: if you wait too long to contact an attorney, the statute of limitations could lapse. Once the statute of limitations expires, your case could be dismissed on a technicality, making it much more difficult, if not impossible, to recover damages.

Do not lose your chance to secure compensation: call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. at 1-866-529-5334 and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation as soon as possible.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Syracuse, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!