Defective Roadway Cases
Defective Roadway cases can involve many things such as lack of a median cable barrier or the failure of an existing one.
Some common road defects include:
- Misplaced, incorrect or missing road signs
- Cable median barrier failure or absence of a median cable barrier
- Guardrail maintenance issues or absence of a guardrail
- Potholes, poor road conditions, failure to maintain road quality, lack of traffic signals
- Defective road construction or poor road design
If a roadway defect contributes to a car crash, the government entity that is responsible for the development and maintenance or that roadway can be held accountable.
In this type of complicated case, you need a lawyer with expertise who can prove that standards were violated.
Crossover Accidents in Arizona
The most dangerous kind of “lane departure” accident involves median “crossovers” – where a vehicle loses control, crosses the median and enters opposing traffic lanes. The forces involved in these collisions are extreme and often catastrophic.
According to Arizona’s 2007 report to the federal government, Arizona’s fatal crash rate is 33% higher than in other states (Excerpt – Arizona 2007 Strategic Highway Safety Plan). According to the report, freeway “lane departure” accidents account for many of these fatalities: “In the five years from 2001–2005, lane departure was a contributing factor to 2,958 deaths and 10,957 serious injuries.”
Arizona said it would do things to deal with lane departure and “crossover” accidents, including the installation of median barriers in locations prone to crossover accidents (Median barrier countermeasure – Strategic Highway Safety Plan 2007). National standards require these types of median barriers.
Multiple stretches of I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix still lack cable median barriers.
Defective Roadway Verdicts
The Leader Law Firm is one of the most experienced law firms in Arizona regarding roadway design. We have tried multiple cases involving a roadway defect.
In 2012, a Maricopa County jury returned a $7.8 million jury verdict against the State of Arizona because they failed to provide a median barrier on I-10 just east of Phoenix. A man and his six-year-old daughter died in the collision.
In December of 2015, a second Maricopa County jury returned a $47 million jury verdict against the State in a similar case that occurred at the same milepost on I-10. Two women driving from Tucson to Phoenix died in a horrific, median crossover accident.
How We Can Help
If you or a loved one have been involved a severe car crash on an Arizona highway such as I-10, I-19 or I-17 that could include a roadway defect, you deserve the most experienced defective roadway lawyer. We understand the complexities of these cases and know what kind of experts are needed.
Contact us to schedule your free case consultation. We will listen, answer your questions and help you make an informed decision about taking legal action.