CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO POOR ROAD DESIGN
The car accident attorneys at Madalon Law want you to be aware of poor road designs and the fatal car accidents they cause when a driver is caught off guard.
Impatient drivers, potholes, road construction and distracted motorists can already make driving on South Florida roads challenging and unpredictable. As dangerous and unpredictable as these obstacles are, they are expected. We also expect our roads to keep us safe when we do things like follow road signs; use the on-ramp/off-ramp or pull over to the side of the road where it is safe. Unfortunately, following the rules of the road can prove to be deadly when there is a flaw in the design of the road. A large percentage of fatal car accidents are one car accidents where the death may not have occurred if the road had been designed differently.
Car accidents that are caused by poor road design tend to be very dangerous and often leave the people involved in the accident with serious injuries like paralysis, brain damage, and even death. The reason these accidents can be so deadly is that the hazard is not in plain sight and usually goes unnoticed until someone dies.
EXAMPLES OF POOR ROAD DESIGN
On-ramp and off-ramps: You can be entering or exiting I-95, the Florida Turnpike, I-595 or any Florida highway and the exits and entrances (straight ramps or circles) have similar placements and distances that drivers become accustomed to. A ramp that is improperly placed or too short can create a deadly scenario for an unsuspecting driver. A good example of this is the ramps where I-95 and State Road 84 meet (Fort Lauderdale area). This highway interchange area has caused several accidents and fatalities.
Shoulder Design: The shoulder is the safe area of the road a driver uses in case they need to pull over. There is a certain amount of room needed so the driver can exit their car safely and avoid being struck by traffic. A shoulder slope also needs to be as flat as possible to minimize the chances of a vehicle rollover.
Median barriers: Median barriers need to be situated appropriately. A design flaw here can lead to deadly head-on collisions with other vehicles.
Pavement edge drop-offs: Driving on a pavement edge drop off can not only decrease the ability of the driver to maintain control of their vehicle when dropping off the side of the paved road but also when attempting to get back on the road.
Signs: Street signs are designed and placed so they are visible and easy to read. Because their purpose is to warn motorists of upcoming traffic patterns, potential hazards, and rules of the road; missing one of these signs could result in a serious and/or fatal car accident.
CONTACT A CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
If you have been seriously injured or have lost a loved one and suspect road design to be a possible reason for the accident, then you need to contact a law firm that understands and is ready to deliver the amount of research needed for a successful outcome. Contact the Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys of Madalon Law for your free consultation today.