Poor Road Condition Accidents In Atlanta
Sometimes, even the most cautious driver experiences a serious car accident not due to their own error or from another driver’s carelessness, but because of hazardous road conditions. Under Georgia’s fault-based injury laws, most car accident claims for compensation require a claim or lawsuit filed against a negligent driver. When poor road conditions lead to a car accident in Atlanta, a car accident claim requires a different approach with help from an experienced Atlanta car accident attorney.
What Types of Poor Road Conditions Cause Car Accidents In Atlanta?
A driver’s control over their vehicle depends significantly upon the tire’s traction on the roadway. When poor road conditions affect the road’s surface, they impair the driver’s ability to control their vehicle.
Atlanta’s extensive network of interstate highways, two-lane roads, and bustling urban streets necessitates regular construction and routine maintenance. In addition, Atlanta experiences a wide variety of inclement weather conditions, which can cause hazardous roads from storm debris, heavy rain, flooding, and occasional snow, slush, and ice. Hazardous road conditions can lead to car accidents caused by sliding, hydroplaning, and collisions with obstacles. A sudden loss of control from cracked pavement, potholes, and downed limbs, branches, leaves, and loose gravel also causes accidents in Atlanta.
What Types of Car Accidents are Caused by Poor Road Conditions In Atlanta?
When a hazardous road condition causes the sudden loss of control, many types of accidents occur. Common types of poor road-condition accidents include the following:
- Rear-end collisions
- Angle collisions, such as T-bone accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Sideswipe accidents
- Roadway departures
- Collisions with obstacles
- Rollover accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
Poor road conditions, such as black ice, slippery slush, and snow, are one of the most common causes of multi-car pileups. These accidents often result from a single collision in fast-moving traffic, where slippery roads cause additional cars to slide into the crashed vehicles, leading to multiple collisions.
Who Is Liable for a Poor Road Condition Accident In Atlanta?
Under the state’s modified comparative negligence car accident laws, most car accident claims in Georgia require an accident victim to file a claim against an at-fault driver’s insurance. But what happens when hazardous road conditions from road construction, poor maintenance, or inclement weather cause an accident?
A poor road condition accident often requires an investigation to determine the cause of the accident, any conditions that contributed to it, and the appropriate insurance policy against which to file a claim. Potentially liable parties in accidents related to road hazards include the following:
- A negligent driver who failed to adjust their speed for poor road conditions or inclement weather
- A negligent road maintenance agency that failed to provide adequate maintenance to repair hazards such as potholes, cracked pavement, fallen storm debris, or snow and ice accumulation
- A negligent road construction agency that left dangerous construction debris, traffic cones, or obstructions
- A road-planning agency that designed a dangerous intersection or an inadequate roadway in a flood zone
- The manufacturer of a defective tire or autopart, such as failed windshield wipers or faulty brakes
Georgia’s modified comparative negligence laws sometimes result in multiple parties being found at fault for contributing to the cause or severity of an accident. A car accident victim may recover compensation for their damages, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering, even if they contributed to the accident, as long as they are less than 50% at fault.
How Can an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer Help My Case?
When poor road conditions cause or contribute to a car accident, multiple defendants and their insurance companies may point their fingers at other parties and dispute, delay, or deny claims. An experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney understands how to navigate these challenges and guide your claim to a favorable result.
If you’ve had a car accident in Atlanta, and a hazardous road condition played a role in your accident, contact Piasta Walker Hagenbush LLC for experienced legal representation.