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Hazardous Roadways in Dallas

Whilst driving always comes with dangers, recent studies suggest that drivers in Dallas should take extra care. A report by The Zebra, analyzing data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), ranked the I-20 highway as the second-deadliest highway in the United States, and the I-35 as the 5th deadliest, both highways passing through Dallas. Furthermore, the American Society of Civil Engineers ranked the condition of Texas highways and roads as a dismal D+ in 2021.

Whilst many factors can cause collisions, hazardous roadways, whether from poorly constructed or improperly maintained roads or from debris, continue to place drivers at risk. If you or a loved one is involved in a collision in Dallas due to hazardous roads, The Lenahan Law Firm will help determine liability and fight for your right to compensation. Call us today at (214) 295-1008.

Who Can Be Liable?

A number of parties may be liable for crashes caused by hazardous roads, depending on the cause of the accident.

Poorly Constructed Roads

Accidents may be caused by poorly constructed roads or highways, such as those with improper grading, insufficient drainage, dangerously sharp corners, or blind spots caused by road design.

A number of parties can be liable for poorly constructed roads leading to an accident, including the engineers who designed the road, construction workers if they performed negligent work, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), or the local government agency with responsibility for that section of road.

Notably however, many government agencies have certain levels of immunity against legal action, making receiving compensation from these parties more difficult.

Improper Maintenance

Improperly maintained roads may also cause collisions, for example, where large potholes or uneven surfaces have developed, where road signs were not replaced, or where large debris such as trees have not been cleared.

For improperly maintained roads, the party with responsibility to maintain that area, whether contractors, TxDOT, or another government agency can be found liable.

Vehicle Debris

If an accident is the result of debris from a private vehicle or a commercial vehicle such as a truck, the trucking company or the owner of the vehicle can be liable for the accident.

Compensation For a Dangerous Road Accident

Receiving compensation for your injuries ultimately requires establishing the cause of your accident and identifying the at-fault party.

If the responsible party is the state or local government or municipality, the Texas Tort Claims Act outlines the limited circumstances in which legal action can be taken against these parties. Where legal action is permitted, the Act places financial limits on how much a person can recover for bodily injury and property destruction against each party.

If you are seeking compensation from private actors such as construction companies, engineering firms, trucking companies or private vehicle owners, you may be able to file an insurance claim, or sue the party for negligence. If your case is successful, compensation is available for a range of economic and non-economic losses. These include for property damage, personal injury, lost income, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

Get Help With an Experienced Dallas Auto Accident Attorney

If you suffered a hazardous road accident in Dallas, The Lenahan Law Firm can ensure you are fully aware of your legal options, and where grounds for legal action exist, help you establish liability and pursue a claim for compensation.

Right after an accident, our Dallas car accident lawyers can ensure you collect the necessary information to strengthen your claim from the scene, such as a police report and witness details. We will also pursue all available avenues to establish liability, such as obtaining CCTV footage or having field experts perform a scene analysis. Call us today at (214) 295-1008.

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