If a Road Condition or Hazard Caused You to Crash, You May Have a Claim
The streets and highways that cross Denver come in all shapes and sizes – and conditions. Roadways take a beating in Colorado, being subject to heavy interstate traffic, rain and snow, and radical changes in temperature. The agency that is responsible for road maintenance may have failed to clean or repair a roadway, and that can trigger a deadly accident – but who is to blame? It may be a city, county, or state agency, and we can help you find out.
If you were injured in an accident caused by a hazardous condition on a road, contact the personal injury lawyers at Welsh Law, LLC. It may be that the City of Denver or Denver County should be the one paying for your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses related to the crash.
Types of Hazardous Road Conditions
A lack of maintenance and bad intersection design both pose a serious risk to vehicle operators. Some hazards include:
- Deep potholes: A pothole cause an unsuspecting driver to lose control or a tire blowout, leading to a collision.
- Uneven pavement: Frost heaves and other types of rough pavement that have not been repaired can cause a driver to swerve or lose control.
- Poorly-designed roads: A roadway and shoulder must be correctly graded to be safe for driving. When improperly designed, it can trigger an accident.
- Snow and ice: Snow and ice on a street or highway, if not removed within a reasonable amount of time, can pose a serious driving hazard, and be the underlying cause of a collision.
- Street lighting: Burned-out streetlights, or lights hidden by overgrown trees, hinder visibility and contribute to accidents, especially with pedestrians.
- Guardrails: Guardrails are there to protect drivers, but faulty or defective guardrails may lead to a deadly accident.
The Most Dangerous Intersections in Denver, CO
City driving poses certain risks, even if you are a careful, law-abiding driver. Denver has several intersections where high numbers of accidents occur, according to the Denver Police Department, below are the top ten (10):
- Colorado Boulevard and East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
- West Colfax Avenue and Kalamath Street
- Park Avenue West and North Globeville Road
- South Quebec Street and East Alameda Avenue
- West Alameda Avenue and South Santa Fe Drive
- Colorado Boulevard and East 40th Avenue
- North Tower Road and East 56th Avenue
- West Mississippi Avenue and South Platte River Drive
- West Mississippi Avenue and South Santa Fe Drive
- Colorado Boulevard and East Colfax Avenue
How to Seek Justice in a Hazardous Road Accident
When a city street is the scene of high numbers of accidents, it may be possible to file a claim against the city itself. Filing a lawsuit against a government agency is different than an accident involving another driver. In those situations, you have three years from the time of the injury or two years from the time of death in which to file a claim. Against the government, you have only 180 days. If you fail to file a specific document within this time, you will lose the right to seek compensation. If the dangerous road was a state road, a “Notice of Claim” must be filed, and must fully comply with the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act.
Types of Hazardous Road Accidents
A vehicle thrown out of control by a hazardous road condition can lead to a range of serious or fatal injuries. The types of accidents include:
- Rollover: An uneven road surface or deep pothole can cause a driver to lose control, followed by a rollover.
- Head-on collision: When a pothole, uneven road surface, or other hazardous condition causes a driver to swerve into an oncoming lane, a head-on collision can occur.
- Sideswipe: A road problem could force a driver out of a lane and into contact with another vehicle, causing a sideswipe accident.
- T-bone or side-impact collision: When a vehicle cannot be controlled due to a hazardous road condition, a side-impact crash could occur, with serious or fatal injuries.
- Single-vehicle crash: An unsafe roadway could cause a vehicle to crash without other vehicles nearby, whether involving trees, guardrails, or other stationary objects.
After a Crash, Speak to a Top Denver Car Accident Attorney
At Welsh Law, LLC, our team is experienced, knowledgeable, and skilled in court. We have spent many years serving as trial lawyers, and we have a full understanding of the processes involved in filing a claim against a city, county, or state agency. Call us at (720) 836-1777, or contact us through our online form.