How Many Car Accidents Are Caused by Potholes?
You’re driving down the road and out of nowhere, you see it. There’s a hole in the road and you’re heading right for it and—you hit it. Potholes are a common issue in roads all over the country, and Chicago is no exception. While many may think of potholes as a nuisance, they can be much more than that. Potholes also a cause car accidents, which can lead to severe injuries and damages.
How Do Potholes Cause Car Wrecks?
When the temperature drastically changes between seasons and there’s constant pressure from thousands of vehicles every day on a road, asphalt naturally develops weak spots. Parts of it will crack and chip away, eventually forming a pothole. Areas that consistently have high amounts of traffic and have poor drainage are more susceptible to developing potholes. These can range from small issues that you may not even notice if you drive over them to wide and deep potholes that can cause damage to your vehicle.
Many drivers are aware of the fact that potholes exist and that they can cause significant vehicle damage if they hit them. As a result, the mere presence of potholes can be enough to cause an accident. If a driver sees a pothole that he or she is rapidly approaching, their focus may shift from safe driving to avoiding the pothole at all costs. In a Forbes article, it was reported that potholes are responsible for $3 billion in damages a year. When a driver sees a pothole, it’s likely that they’ll try to swerve to avoid it because they’re thinking about how the pothole could cause damage their car.
They may also suddenly slam on their brakes or veer into the lane next to them to avoid having their car damaged by a pothole. If there’s another vehicle near them, that driver may not anticipate the car suddenly stopping or crossing the lanes. This can lead to an accident.
Another danger exists. Hitting a pothole can lead to loss of vehicle control. The driver may try to overcorrect their steering and run off the road or end up in another lane, striking another vehicle. Potholes can also damage tires. They can pierce through tires or bend the rims. A damaged tire is extremely dangerous to drive with. Someone could have a blowout—which greatly reduces their ability to continue driving safely.
What Happens if a Pothole Causes Your Injuries?
If you have sustained injuries because of a pothole-related accident, you may be wondering who is liable for the incident. While drivers have a duty to safely operate their vehicles even in the presence of road hazards, a city or municipality may also have the responsibility to make sure the roads are maintained and safe to drive on – especially when they have notice or knowledge of the particular pothole. IN certain circumstances third-party contractors have been hired to repair potholes and have failed to do so in a meaningful way. Whether the driver, the municipality or a third party is responsible is not always clear.
A dependable attorney can fully evaluate the circumstances of your car accident to assist you in determining who is responsible for your injuries. If you’re unsure as to who was responsible or want those responsible for your injuries held accountable, we stand ready to evaluate where your accident happened, how the accident occurred and who can be held responsible.
Krzak Rundio Gorman, Injury Attorneys Will Represent Your Best Interests
When a car accident puts your life on hold, you may not know who to turn to. Krzak Rundio Gorman, Injury Attorneys helps citizens of Chicago and the greater Illinois area.
If negligence was found to be the cause of your accident, you may be able to receive compensation that can help you cover the costs from the crash and your injuries. This can include past medical expenses, future medical expenses reasonably expected to be incurred, past and future lost wages, past and future pain and suffering and loss of a normal life. Get in touch with us today to schedule a free consultation of your case.
