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Too many people have had the unfortunate experience of being struck by flying debris on the road. One minute you are driving along listening to your favorite song and the next thing you know an object flying through the air hits your car. Most of the time small debris-related crashes where property damage is minimal are not worth filing a claim with your insurance company. However, there are events of road debris accidents that result in significant vehicle damage, personal injury, and costly medical bills. In these cases, it is important to seek out an experienced car accident attorney who can help navigate a personal injury claim and find out who is responsible for road debris damage. Call Regan Zambri Long PLLC today for a free initial consultation.
Unfortunately, hazardous objects end up on the road often. This can be due to unsecured loads falling from a negligent driver‘s vehicle, dangerous road debris entering the roadway from a construction company, or even dangerous conditions left unattended by a government entity. In any one of these cases, flying debris or other road debris can cause serious damages or injuries. Common examples of road debris accidents include:
The most important thing to do in any crash is the safety of anyone involved. First and foremost, those involved must make sure they are in a safe position. If your car is movable try to get it out of the traffic way and guide it to a safer location such as the shoulder or a parking lot. The last thing you want is to compound the problem by becoming a road hazard yourself and creating more car accidents.
If the car is not moveable, put on your hazard lights and remain in your car with your seatbelt on. This will allow you to take advantage of all the safety features built into the car in case other vehicles strike you. Once in a safe location, call the authorities to seek any needed medical attention and begin a police report.
One major problem with road debris accidents is getting enough information on the at-fault driver so they can be held responsible, allowing you to collect damages. This is because other drivers may not be aware of items falling from their vehicle and may not know their road debris caused any damage. This means that they often do not stop. Allowing even one minute to pass after road debris is created means the other driver may be one mile or more away. This can make it extremely difficult to identify the liable party.
This is why it is very important to contact a skilled personal injury attorney like those at Regan Zambri Long PLLC. Our expert attorneys have experience in investigating these types of incidents. Whether it is interviewing witnesses, tracking down and reviewing the department of transportation traffic camera footage, or matching damage with components of the other driver’s vehicle, the expertise of the attorneys of Regan Zambri Long PLLC will help you ensure the responsible party is held liable.
Car accidents are often caused by other drivers and involve vehicles colliding. This is the type of car accident that comes to mind for most people. For a lot of them, it is common knowledge to deal with an insurance company, collision coverage, and file a claim. Even to the most seasoned driver accidents caused by road debris can be a bit more complicated. Many drivers do not know how to deal with an accident involving debris or know who is responsible for road debris damage.
This question seems simple, but it can get tricky. Several parties may share liability. The most obvious is the other driver. If your car accident was caused by flying debris that came from another vehicle on the road, that negligent driver is responsible for the item that fell off of the car or truck and the resulting damage or personal injury.
If the debris that caused the car accident and resulting injuries has been in the roadway for some time, the government entity that controls that road can be at fault. This is especially true if it can be proven that the town, city, or municipality was made aware of the debris through a police report or other notification.
If the debris that caused the accident was the result of a manufacturing defect, even a motor vehicle company can share fault for your car accident.
Start by recognizing avoidable road debris. If you identify debris that may cause injuries or damage to your vehicle, take another route. Also, contact the appropriate authorities and make them aware of the road debris. This allows them to fix the problem so a vehicle can avoid hitting the hazard in the first place, and creates a record so they can be held accountable if they do not take action.
Staying away from vehicles that have loads that appear unsecured will also help avoid an accident. Insufficient tie-downs, straps, or a shifting load on the back of a truck is something to be avoided. Keep your vehicle as far away as possible to prevent being hit by flying debris. If you can keep from driving directly behind semi-trucks your chances of an accident as a result of shredded tires also drops significantly.
Like any serious car accident, the costs of road debris accidents can be very high. These costs may include:
All of these injury-related expenses can add up quickly and be overwhelming. Plus, the mental and emotional toll can be equally challenging. This is especially true for those who have suffered severe injuries and their family members. After all, it is not only the person injured in the accident that is affected.
Seek the help of a personal injury attorney at Regan Zambri Long PLLC to help understand your legal options.
The attorneys at Regan Zambri Long PLLC have over 100 years of collective experience helping clients recover multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts. Contact our expert lawyers today for a free initial consultation and experience first hand our top-notch attorney-client relationship and commitment to serve clients. Find out how we can help in filing a claim and recover of the damages you suffered as a result of your road debris accident. Our attorneys stand ready to help you fight for you, allowing you to focus on what is most important: getting back to health and normalcy. Call 202-960-4596 today!
