Potholes: A Dangerous Cause of Auto Accidents
There are approximately five million reported car accidents in the United States each year, which amounts to nearly 14,000 on average each day. Every year car accidents result in countless personal injuries, numerous wrongful deaths, and billions of dollars in damages. Car accident statistics are startling, but they aren’t as surprising when you take into consideration all of the factors that can contribute to car accidents. Driver error, recklessness, and negligence are the leading cause of car accidents, but defective car parts, weather conditions, and road conditions are also potential causes of auto accidents.
Potholes are one road condition that are particularly dangerous. The attorneys at The Tawwater Law Firm have represented many victims of auto accidents involving potholes in the Oklahoma City, OK area. They have helped these victims collect financial compensation for the extensive losses these types of accidents can cause.
Dangers of Potholes
Potholes form when the top layer of asphalt on a road becomes damaged and the under layer of concrete becomes exposed. This forms a bowl-shaped indentation in the road. Potholes often start off small, but continual wear and tear, poor weather conditions, and water collection can all worsen the condition and result in large openings in the road. Deep potholes have been shown to have an impact similar to a 35mph car accident. This kind of impact can cause significant damage to a vehicle and greatly increase the risk of a car accident, as it can throw the vehicle out of control.
Liability in a Car Accident Involving Potholes
If a car accident was caused by a pothole, the government officials responsible for maintaining the road may be held liable for the damages of the accident. However, proving liability in cases such as these is complex and requires a lot work and expertise.
That is why it is important for accident victims to work with experienced car accident attorneys, such as those at The Tawwater Law Firm. Our attorneys understand the complexities of these cases and are ready to gather the evidence that is necessary to prove liability. To establish liability against the public entity responsible for the road, our attorneys will need to provide evidence of the following:
- The road is owned and/or controlled by the public entity
- The road was damaged at the time of the accident
- The pothole (or road damage) was a direct cause of the car accident
- The public entity had knowledge of the road damage and could have reasonably anticipated that the damage could result in an accident
- The pothole (or road damage) was a result of either recklessness on the part of the public entity, or a failure to act promptly in response to being notified of the damage
Once liability is established, our attorneys will fight on behalf of our clients to help them obtain just compensation for any damages stemming from the car accident, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Schedule a Consultation
If you have been injured in a car accident and are interested in learning about your legal rights to compensation, schedule a consultation with one of the experienced attorneys at The Tawwater Law Firm at your earliest convenience. We are happy to go over the details of your case and recommend an appropriate course of legal action. We look forward to hearing from you.
