Injured on a Dangerous Roadway or Sidewalk?
People often suffer serious injuries in slip-and-falls on dangerous roadways and sidewalks. Such accidents often involve:
- Pedestrian injuries
- Slippery or uneven sidewalks, cobblestones or pavement
- Potholes
- Road resurfacing hazards
- Steeply sloping driveways
- Slippery floor surfaces or floor coverings
- Oil, grease, water, other liquids or food on the floor
- Uneven stairs or inadequate stair rails
- Tree roots, cords or wires on the ground
- Blocked store aisles
- Falling objects
- Bridge construction hazards, including falling debris
- Unsafe balconies or railings
- Poor lighting
The public roadways are owned and maintained either by Cal Trans (The California Department of Transportation) or a county or local government. Some roads, sidewalks and public places are owned by one entity and maintained by another. Lawsuits against such formidable opponents are very expensive and complex and should be handled only by attorneys with significant experience in the field, such as those of the Dolan Law Firm.
Million-Dollar Verdicts and Settlements in Cases of San Francisco Public Property Injury
The lawyers of the Dolan Law Firm have recovered millions of dollars for clients as a result of dangerous and defective roadways, sidewalks and public places. In one case, head trial attorney Christopher Dolan won a $1.65 million settlement for a motorcyclist seriously injured because of a roadway defect.
The Law in Dangerous Roadways Cases
The government has immunity for defects in design of a roadway if the design has been approved by a government body, unless it can be shown that the conditions and usage of the roadway have rendered the original design invalid. This immunity can also be overcome if you can show that the roadway design or condition presented a trap for the unwary motorist who believed, based on the signage, conditions, etc., that the roadway was safe, when it wasn’t.
The government has immunity against claims that it should have placed a traffic sign or signal (failure to sign claims) at a particular intersection or warning of a particular roadway feature. This means that it is not negligent for a mere failure to place a sign or signal at a particular place. This immunity may be overcome if it can be shown that the layout, usage and available information provided to the motorist created a trap for an unsuspecting driver using the roadway with due care.
Contact Our Premises Liability Lawyers Soon
A person injured as a result of a dangerous condition on public property such as a defect in a public roadway must take immediate action. According to the statute of limitations, that person must file a claim within six months of the injury or risk losing the right to recover damages.
You should take photographs of the dangerous condition as soon as possible after an accident or collision. Conditions often change or are repaired, and the evidence may be lost. Be careful when photographing roadway conditions that you do not place yourself in traffic or harm’s way. Always have a lookout to help you and only work from a position of safety. The attorneys at the Dolan Law Firm will go out and photograph the scene for you. Contact our lawyers online or call 415-636-8160 for a free case evaluation.
