If you believe that the roads in Sacramento are some of the worst roads in the state, you would be correct. However, it is also safe to say that we have some of the worst roads in the nation. According to a recent report by TRIP, a nonprofit research group, Sacramento ranked 12th out of the Top 20 Large Urban Areas for roads rated in “poor condition.”
Sadly, Sacramento did not have the worst roads in the state. In fact, California had over fifteen cities in the Top 20 list. The state held the top three positions on the list. The top three positions were held by:
- Ranking in at the number one position was San Francisco and Oakland
- In the number two position was San Jose
- Ranking in the third position were Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Anaheim
The Condition of Roads in Sacramento
The report goes beyond simply ranking the large urban areas that have roads in poor condition. Roads in Sacramento fell into one of four categories (good, fair, mediocre, and poor). Eighteen percent of Sacramento roads fell within the “good” category. Only 12 percent of the roads fell into the “fair” category. That means that 70 percent of the roads in Sacramento fell into the bottom two categories (41 percent poor and 29 percent mediocre).
What Does this Report Mean for Drivers?
Damage to vehicle and injuries sustained from accidents are the two most serious consequences poor road conditions can have on drivers. For instance, two lanes of Interstate 5 in Sacramento had to be closed over the Labor Day holiday. Crews had to perform emergency repairs on the road. Potholes on I-5 had previously caused major traffic jams when large potholes damaged more than 25 vehicles during one morning commute.
In addition to causing vehicle damage, poor road conditions can lead to or contribute to the cause of an accident. A driver may hit a pothole or encounter other road hazard causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Depending on the other circumstances at that moment, a small pothole could lead to a multi-car accident that results in fatalities and serious injuries.
Who is Responsible for an Accident Involving Road Conditions?
It can be exceedingly difficult to determine liability in a car accident involving a road hazard. Did the pothole cause the accident or did the driver cause the accident? In some cases, both the pothole and the driver’s behaviors contributed to the cause of the crash. Therefore, it is important to consult an experienced accident attorney.
A Sacramento car accident attorney investigates the crash to determine how the crash occurred and the factors involved in the crash. By isolating the cause and the factors, the attorney can identify the various parties who might be liable for damages. This is a crucial step in a car accident case because a victim can only recover damages from parties who are directly responsible for causing the crash.
When road conditions contributed to a crash, a government agency may be involved in the claim. Because the deadline to file a claim against a government entity may be much shorter than the deadline in a normal case, it is best to contact a Sacramento car accident attorney as quickly as possible to discuss your options for filing an injury claim.
Contact The Tiemann Law Firm for a Free Case Review
Call The Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 for your free consultation with one of our Sacramento car accident attorneys.
