Although truck driver error or vehicle mechanical failures often cause or contribute to catastrophic truck accidents, poor road conditions – due to weather, inadequate road maintenance, or poor roadway design – are another critical factor in many accidents. If you were injured in a big rig truck accident, you need an experienced truck accident lawyer for wrecks caused by bad road conditions on your side. At Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer, we can investigate your accident and help you pursue options for recovery.
Road Conditions: A Hidden Factor in Truck Accidents
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, roadway problems were among the top ten factors coded for drivers and their vehicles in a recent large truck crash causation study. Although weather does not typically affect road conditions in Arizona, poorly designed roadways in our state or road conditions due to poor maintenance can play a role in truck accidents.
Potholes or otherwise damaged or neglected roads can contribute to crashes if they affect the truck driver’s ability to control the vehicle. Poorly designed roads with tight entrance ramps or roads that are too steep for a large commercial truck can contribute to serious accidents, resulting in devastating injuries. Unfortunately, some road conditions are often not immediately apparent to truck drivers, affecting their ability to avoid such hazards.
Who Is Liable for a Truck Accident Caused by Poor Road Conditions?
Under Arizona law, the party responsible for the accident must pay for the victim’s financial losses, including medical expenses and lost wages. Determining who or what entity is liable for the accident can be a challenging inquiry for which you need a lawyer. Your lawyer will investigate the circumstances of the accident to decipher who is responsible. They will examine the truck driver’s actions, whether the driver was an employee or independent contractor of a trucking company, the company’s policies and procedures concerning hiring and training drivers, and the vehicle’s maintenance log as they assess liability.
In addition to these potentially responsible parties, governmental entities or agencies may be found liable in part for the accident if hazardous road conditions contributed to the crash. For example, if the local municipality failed to maintain the roads to the extent that potholes or loose gravel caused the accident, they may be held responsible. Likewise, the governmental agency responsible for the design of the roadway, intersection, or placement of traffic signs and signals may be liable for the accident if these factors played a role in the crash.
Because suing the government involves specific deadlines and other procedural hurdles, contacting a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident for wrecks caused by bad road conditions is critical to your case.
Seeking Justice and Support
You can seek compensation from the party responsible for the accident that caused your injuries. Our firm will thoroughly investigate the accident and assess your financial losses so we can seek maximum compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and even money for pain and suffering.
Contact Our Phoenix Truck Accident Attorneys for Help
If you were hurt in a truck road accident, call Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer. Our legal team is well-equipped to handle all aspects of your case. We understand that you may feel intimidated by the legal process and need clarification about what steps you can take while recovering from your injuries. We have vast experience helping accident victims just like you. Contact us today for a free case review.
