Car Accidents Due to Dangerous Roadways

Serving Dallas and North Texas

It is estimated that almost every single person in the U.S. will be involved in a car accident during his/her lifetime. While there are precautions you can take to minimize your chances of being just another car accident statistic, there are certain circumstances that are simply beyond your control. Drunk drivers swerving from lane to lane, pedestrians appearing out of nowhere, truck loads falling onto the highway, and huge potholes that are not marked are just a few of the unpredictable hazards careful drivers may experience on the road. There really isn't anything you can do when these problems present themselves without warning.

Dangerous Roadways

Dangerous roadways are responsible for a large number of automobile accidents each year in our country.

Common road problems that contribute to car accidents include:

  • Dangerous curves are one of the most common road hazards; some states even have certain curves named "Dead man's curve." These curves can force a car to swerve into the opposite lane of traffic or can cause the car to flying off the road and possibly down an embankment, into water or off a steep cliff.
  • Steep drop-offs onto the shoulder.  A sharp drop-off as little as a couple of inches can result in a car going off the shoulder and spiraling out of control. When they go off the shoulder, drivers often "overcorrect" in an effort to regain control, but this is rarely successful.  Over-correction can put your car into the opposite lane of traffic and possibly cause a head-on collision.
  • Insufficient drainage.  When heavy rains occur for long periods of time, poorly constructed roads are unable to produce sufficient drainage to keep standing water off the roadway. Water-covered surfaces can lead to hydroplaning, loss of control, and even vehicle submersion.  So many drivers make the mistake of attempting to drive through water-covered roads only to find out the water is several inches, if not feet, deeper than what they estimated. Many motorists have gotten stuck in their submerged vehicles and drowned because they could not get out of their car once the car was surrounded and/or submerged with water.
  • Construction zones.  Road construction sites are extremely dangerous-for both the construction worker and the drivers of the vehicles going through the site. We have all seen those signs warning of construction and stating that fines are "doubled in work zones," but, unfortunately, some reckless drivers refuse to slow down as they travel through these very dangerous areas.  Driving at a high rate of speed and then quickly coming up on a construction zone can be a recipe for disaster. If you are traveling too fast to slow or stop in time, a chain reaction and multi-car pile-up may occur. Thousands of construction workers have been killed by careless drivers in construction zones.

If you use good judgment, drive defensively, and are aware of your surroundings, you may be able to at least reduce your chances that you'll be involved in an automobile accident at some time in your life.

However, if you or a loved one has been involved in an automobile accident in Dallas or a surrounding area of Texas, please contact the automobile accident attorneys at Polewski & Associates today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation.

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Have you or a loved one been seriously hurt in a car accident? Please contact Polewski & Associates today to schedule a consultation.