Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
Some consider potholes or chuck holes just to be a part of driving in Chicago and a pain that cannot be avoided. But potholes often are more than just an annoyance to drivers and bicyclists. They can be a threat to safety and they are responsible for numerous accidents every year. No driver is immune from the threat of a pothole but some are at greater risk than others.
Potholes can cause a car to be knocked out of alignment or can even entrap a car’s wheel if the hole is large enough. Too often, though, a pothole causes a driver to lose control of a vehicle and then to cause a collision with another car or an object in the road. This can lead to serious injuries to a driver, a passenger, or others in the area.
Motorcycle riders and bicyclists may face the greatest risk of injury by potholes because a pothole can easily cause a crash among these riders, even without another vehicle being involved. Any time the rider of a motorcycle or bicycle comes into contact with a pothole, there is a chance that the rider will be thrown off and may land on the ground. These incidents often result in injuries or in the worst cases, death.
Pothole accidents may not be avoidable and in some cases may not be the fault of a city or a state. But in some cases, a local or state government knows of the dangerous condition but fails to take action to correct it, allowing others to potentially become injured in the meantime. When the existence of a pothole is known but ignored, a city or other entity may be liable for the injuries that result from an accident. Speaking with an injury lawyer is the best way to know whether you have a valid claim for your damages and if you are entitled to financial relief.
A major cause of potholes if the cycle of freezing and thawing that occurs in cold weather climates like Chicago. Snow and ice fall on the road and turn to water as cars run over it or as the weather warms. The water runs underneath the road’s surface and then freezes, causing the ground beneath the roadway to freeze. This causes the area to expand and crack, creating more ways for water to again travel beneath the road’s surface and further freezing. This cracking and expanding of the road can cause large sections to fracture and falter, leading to potholes. Though the weather may cause many of these road defects to occur, the roads must still be maintained in a reasonably safe manner by those in charge of their care.
Often, it can be difficult to know whether your accident gave rise to a valid personal injury claim so that a recovery can be made to properly compensation you for your injuries. That is where the attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. can help. We have a lawyer standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 so that we can provide all injury victims with a free case consultation. There is no obligation on your part for taking advantage of the free consultation and the matters discussed will remain confidential.
If you have been involved in an accident that left you injured, do not let your rights disappear. Call us today and let us help you get the legal relief you deserve and that you are entitled to for the damages you sustained. We want to help you with your personal injury case and we are standing by now to take your call.
Prior Blog Entry:
Stalled Van Leads to Fatal Crash in Forest Park, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published January 13, 2014.
Resource:
Pothole problems running deep, by Jon Hilkevitch, Chicago Tribune, published January 27, 2014.