Injury Due to Poor Road Maintenance

Poor road maintenance is an ongoing concern in every region of the United States, and that includes here in Oklahoma. Cracks, potholes and more cause undue wear and deterioration on your tires, decrease gas mileage, and even contribute to accidents with injury. With all the hazards we face daily on the roadways, the roads themselves should not be a concern. Sadly, the roads we travel daily can be more hazardous than we think.

Hard Numbers Concerning Oklahoma Roads

Here are some startling statistics concerning poor road maintenance and how it can contribute to injury. According to a study by TRIP, a national transportation research group:

• 30% of Oklahoma’s major roads are in poor condition. Driving on roads in need of repair costs Oklahoma motorists $2 billion a year in extra vehicle repairs and operating costs – $810 per motorist.
• 23% of Oklahoma’s bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
• It is estimated that roadway features are likely a contributing factor in approximately one-third of traffic fatalities. There were 669 traffic fatalities in 2014 in Oklahoma. A total of 3,419 people died on Oklahoma’s highways from 2010 through 2014.
• Oklahoma’s traffic fatality rate of 1.40 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel is higher than the national average of 1.08. The fatality rate on the state’s rural non-Interstate roads is disproportionately higher than that on all other roads in the state (2.67 fatalities per 100 million miles of travel vs. 0.77).

In a news release from November 1, 2016, TRIP affirmed that Tulsa area roads are among the most deteriorated in the U.S., costing drivers approximately $1,000 annually.

Who is Negligent for Poor Road Maintenance?

Determining who is responsible for poor road maintenance can be complicated. Different roads are maintained by cities, counties and states. Different maintenance responsibilities can also be shared for different roadways. In addition, some cities, counties and states contract road maintenance to independent contractors. Determining which government agency or private contractor was responsible for poor road maintenance is important for holding them accountable in court, but also to ascertain whether they may even be forced to bear responsibility in a court of law. Some agencies, including states and the federal government, are immune from lawsuits concerning some issues.

Once the responsible party has been determined, poor road maintenance that contributed to injury must be proven. Such things as timing, road contract financing, weather conditions and more are all contributing factors the court will consider when assessing blame. If you have suffered injury due to poor road maintenance in eastern Oklahoma, Tulsa or McAlester, you should have a fair hearing in court to determine if you deserve compensation due to the negligence of another party. The attorneys of Edwards and Patterson Law offer free case evaluations. Contact us online or call 877-403-8417 to schedule a consultation.