If you or someone you know has recently been injured in an accident in San Diego, and you believe that the city, county or other municipality may be responsible for your injuries, this is known as a road defects accident.

With more than 30,000 people killed every single year and millions more injured in vehicle accidents, most people don’t even realize the potential impact of road defects. Road defect accidents can be so unexpected that you don’t realize the extent of your injuries until some time later.

A survey completed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that was presented to Congress in 2008, showed that this issue was estimated to be associated with more than 13,000 crashes every year.

Some of the most common examples of dangerous road defects include weak bridges, overgrown shrubs or roadside trees, missing signs, missing guardrails, insufficient shoulders, railroad crossings not properly marked or protected, poorly designed off ramps and curves and construction zones that are not properly partitioned. Many of the most devastating accidents caused by road defects are the result of head on collisions when drivers do not see appropriate signage to be operating their car in the right direction.

The National Transportation Safety Board looked at the most common causes of deadly wrong-way driving crashes and found that one of the leading causes of these accidents were drivers entering exit ramps. Poor lighting, poor signage, and other issues were the most common factors in these road design and road defect accidents.

If you or someone you know has already been hurt in a crash like this, you need to begin a prompt investigation to identify who could be held responsible for the injuries you have sustained. Prompt evaluation by an experienced injury attorney is necessary to protect your rights.