It may come as a surprise to some, but car accidents can occur due to factors beyond negligence, such as road hazards. Sadly, these hazards can result in severe accidents, resulting in victims burdened with high medical costs, lost wages, emotional distress, inconvenience, and other significant losses. In such cases, victims often ponder their legal rights to seek compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. To collect compensation, victims must prove that someone else’s negligence caused their injuries. Establishing liability can be challenging when an accident is caused by certain road hazards as blame can sometimes not be assigned to a particular person or entity. Keep reading to learn who may be liable for an accident caused by a road hazard. In addition, discover how a competent New York City Car Accident Lawyer can help you seek reasonable compensation for your damages.
Who may be liable for an accident caused by a road hazard?
In some cases, there is no one to blame for a road hazard. In situations like these, it can be challenging to take legal action as blame cannot be assigned to a particular person or entity. As mentioned above, to recover compensation for damages, it is necessary to demonstrate that another party’s negligence directly caused your injuries. If a road hazard such as an animal, snow, or other natural condition causes an accident, you cannot assert that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. For example, if you hit a deer, you cannot pursue legal action against the deer. Therefore, you will have to work with your insurance company to cover your damages.
Nevertheless, in some cases, a public entity, private business, or public agency may be liable for an accident arising from a road hazard. The government is a public entity that is responsible for maintaining the roads to ensure they are safe for motorists to use. When proper safety measures are not taken and poor road conditions cause an accident, the municipality responsible for maintaining the roads can be held liable for a collision. A public agency or private business can also be accountable for an accident if they fail to display warning signage or reduce the speed limit in a construction zone to prevent an accident.
Establishing liability can be difficult when a car accident is caused by a road hazard. However, an experienced New York City car accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Brian J. Elbaum can help you fulfill the burden of proof. Our firm is prepared to help you fight for the financial compensation you deserve. Allow our firm to represent your interests today.
