Highway Defects

Highway Defects Lawyers Fight for Clients in Phoenix 

As a former assistant attorney general for the State of Arizona, Lew Moore defended the State of Arizona (ADOT) in many serious injuries and wrongful death cases for negligent design and negligent maintenance.  These cases require knowledge and experience in highway design and highway construction.

Highway and roadway defects can cause life-threatening accidents.  A municipality or large company may be in charge of maintaining an area’s road systems and repairing or marking unsafe conditions.  Even the most cautious, skilled, and prudent driver could be in a life-changing accident when unsafe road conditions are present.

If you were in an accident due to unmarked, unsafe road conditions, you might be entitled to compensation for damages.  A highway or roadway defect case is complex, and public entities often have immunity from lawsuits.  Arizona Lawyer Lew Moore understands the complex laws that govern this type of personal injury case.  He has the experience you need in hopes of getting the compensation you deserve.

When is a Public Entity at Fault for Roadway Defects? 

Public entities and employers sometimes have immunity from lawsuits caused by defective plans, designs, construction, improvement, or maintenance of streets, bridges, roadways, and highways.

Moore Injury Law knows when such immunities apply and when they don’t.  Exceptions to immunity include:

  • Injuries caused by a design or plan that does NOT conform to accepted standards of engineering or design.
  • Unreasonably dangerous roadways or highways without adequate signs or warnings. This may include failure to post appropriate speed limits, failure to prohibit dangerous U-turns or left turns, and warnings for railroad crossings.

Moore Injury Law can determine if you are prohibited from seeking compensation from a public entity.  If you are, we can determine if a negligent contractor or subcontractor might be liable for your injuries.

What Are Common Highway and Road Defects?

In America, we want to believe so strongly that our roads are safe that few of us ever even consider the thought. Yes, other drivers can be dangerous, and so can weather conditions, but we trust the streets we drive on to be well made, well-marked, and more or less well maintained. However, some state government entities and construction companies have been responsible for poor road design in the past. And when that road defect is left unchanged, the designers and those who maintain the roadway may potentially be held liable.

Common types of roadway defects include:

  • Construction hazards: unfinished roads and other types of ongoing construction hazards can put drivers and pedestrians at risk. They also put the construction workers themselves at risk for as long as they are working on a public road.
  • Dangerous intersections: some intersections are simply known for being dangerous and causing an unusual number of head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, and pedestrians being struck. But despite the reputation for danger, it can take way too long for the problems to be fixed.
  • Defective auto parts left on the road: whether as the result of a crash or some malfunction, sometimes pieces of cars and their wrecks are left in or at the side of the road. If not properly cleaned up in time, these discarded auto parts could cause another accident.
  • Incorrect signage: we’re all told to obey the rules of the road… but what happens when the signs tell us to do something wrong or dangerous? An incorrect sign, whether it be for speed limits or turns, can easily result in serious injuries or wrongful death.
  • Lack of guardrails: highways often put up guardrails to protect drivers on narrow or elevated roads. When the guardrails are not present, drivers risk going over the edge and crashing below.
  • Lack of signs: those in charge of maintaining our highways have a responsibility to mark those roads with proper signage to keep drivers safe. Failure to post the correct signs and other markings can put people at unnecessary risk.
  • Missing median barriers: though drivers may view barriers with disdain and annoyance, they are often put there to keep people safe and out of oncoming traffic.
  • Objects on the roadway: fallen trees, dead animals, lost cargo, and all types of debris left in the road can prove hazardous to even the most experienced of drivers.
  • Potholes or general poor road maintenance: potholes are usually the result of long periods of extreme weather and poor road maintenance. The worst potholes can cause drivers to lose control over their vehicles, sending them careening off course into obstacles or other vehicles.
  • Shoulder drop-offs without warnings or guards: sudden drop-offs often result in tire blowouts, which in turn cause the loss of vehicular control. In some cases, an unexpected shoulder drop-off can result in a vehicle rollover accident.
  • Uneven pavement: like a pothole or an unmarked shoulder drop-off, uneven pavement can cause a driver to lose control, putting them and others in danger.
  • Water pooling / poor drainage: sometimes, America’s roadways flood quickly. And a flooded street is almost always deeper than it first appears. Driving through water pooling can cause a loss of traction and a crash.

These and other roadway defects can result in the loss of vehicle control, a vehicle crash, and automobile collisions. Poorly designed intersections and railroad crossings can result in an accident that injures vulnerable pedestrians.

These kinds of road defects can, and often do, result in life-threatening injuries. If you’ve been badly injured and are in need of legal assistance, it is recommended that you speak to a law firm with experience trying roadway defects cases. Moore Injury Law offers a free consultation to all new clients looking to file a lawsuit for dangerous road conditions which led to an accident or collision. The lawyers of our law firm will keep you involved throughout the whole process as they attempt to hold responsible parties accountable and get you the fair compensation that you deserve.

What Types of Serious Injuries Are Common in Car Accidents Caused by Highway Defects?

Dangerous road defects can cause truck and car accidents which result in catastrophic injuries to drivers and passengers alike.

Common types of injuries from poorly designed roadways include:

  • Broken bones and torn muscles.
  • Cuts and bruises.
  • Disfigurement to the face and body.
  • Emotional distress and post-traumatic stress disorder.
  • Head and neck injuries.
  • Lacerations and soft tissue damage.
  • Permanent scarring.
  • Severed limbs.
  • Temporary or permanent paralysis.
  • Traumatic brain injuries.

At Moore Injury Law, our attorneys understand that you are going through a difficult time after your unfortunate accident and may potentially still be dealing with physical wounds and emotional scars. As your highway defects lawyer, your legal representation from Moore Injury Law will attempt to provide sympathetic and caring legal care.

Your lawyers will attempt to prove an at-fault party’s negligent actions led to the accident involving your vehicle and did not take adequate steps to post warning signs or repair any damages. With a strong case, our road defects attorneys have helped other victims obtain winning settlements, and we would like the opportunity to provide you with a similar opportunity. For a free consultation, please contact our Phoenix law office.

Why Hire Moore Injury Law to Represent Your Car Accident Claim? 

Mr. Moore has been successful in bringing cases against the State for negligent highway defects and construction zoning accidents.

If the negligent acts of another party, whether they be government entities or construction companies, led to your vehicle crash because of dangerous road conditions or highway defects, you should hire an attorney to represent your case. With a strong case, your personal injury attorney in AZ may be able to help you receive fair compensation, which could go a long way towards paying for your medical expenses and any pain and suffering you might have been forced to endure.

Moore Injury Law works on a contingency fee basis.  That means we only get paid if we win your case by settlement or trial.  There is no up-front fee. We are paid a percentage of what we recover for you.

We always provide a free consultation.  Call us anytime at 602-795-6605.