Auto Accidents and Road Debris: Obstructions and Other Hazards
While many people think about drunk driving and reckless driving causing auto accidents, road debris can also cause a significant number of collisions. The attorneys at The Tawwater Law Firm in Oklahoma City take these matters very seriously and believe that victims of car accidents need skilled lawyers to obtain damages for their injuries.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has estimated that road debris results in up to 25,000 motor vehicle collisions every year, and causing roughly 90 fatalities annually. Let's consider road debris-related auto accidents right now.
Types of Road Debris
Some common kinds of road debris that lead to accidents include the following:
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Plant Life On the Road - Fallen tree limbs, piles of leaves, and even yard waste can result in lost traction and major collisions.
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Litter On the Road - Anything from fallen mattresses to cardboard boxes can be a major hazard on the road, causing people to swerve to dodge potential vehicle damage.
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Dropped Cargo On the Road - Large trucks may accidentally lose their loads, resulting in major obstacles in a lane.
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Sharp Objects On the Road - Broken glass, nails, and other kinds of sharp objects can cause tire blowouts and major accidents.
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Particulate Matter On the Road - Small or relatively small objects like sand, pebbles, gravel, and powder can actually lead to dangerous road conditions due to a loss of traction.
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Hard Objects On the Road - Sometimes concrete, asphalt, and other materials used in construction and road maintenance break and lead to road hazards.
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Tires or Tire Treads On the Road - You've likely seen tire tread or tires on the road, sometimes in lanes. These can lead to problems if they are run over.
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Animal Corpses (Roadkill) - Large animal corpses on the road can lead to major vehicle damage.
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Debris from a Previous Motor Vehicle Collision - When an previous auto accident has occurred, it's important for the road debris to be cleared away (this goes for large bumpers or even broken glass), or it can lead to an accident.
Is it possible to avoid debris on the road?
Many people do swerve to avoid debris on the road as a way to avoid vehicle damage or losing control of their vehicle. While it's ideal to avoid road debris, this attempt to avoid road debris is what often causes accidents to happen.
When a motorist swerves very suddenly, they may accidentally collide with other vehicles, leading to a side-end collision, and possibly even a multi-car collision. The act of swerving can often cause motorists to lose control of their vehicle as well, particularly at high speeds and in poor weather.
How Our Legal Team Will Hold Negligent Parties Accountable
Our attorneys will consider the circumstances that led to your accident occurring and determine if there was a negligent person or party involved. This could be road construction crews whose materials wound up in the road, truck drivers who did not load their cargo properly, or even local authorities who did not properly maintain or clean the road. We will then fight for you to hold the negligent party accountable and obtain damages to cover hardships and losses you have experienced.
Schedule a Consultation at The Tawwater Law Firm
If you would like more information about your legal options following a major auto accident or vehicle collision, be sure to contact our team of personal injury attorneys today. At The Tawwater Law Firm, our lawyers will fight diligently for you to ensure that you receive just compensation for major injuries.