Potholes are bowl-shaped openings in the road that can be up to 10 inches deep and are caused by the wear-and-tear and weathering of the roads. They occur when the top layer of the road, the asphalt, has worn away and exposed the concrete base. Once a pothole forms, it can grow to several feet, with rain water accelerating the process and creating a trap for vehicles, making one of the top causes of car accidents.
Potholes put a huge strain on your car’s suspension and shocks (which absorb most of the impact of bumps and potholes). It can cause expensive damage to your car and cause you to make an unexpected appointment with the auto mechanic. They can also cause an impact similar to that of a 35-mph car accident, if deep enough.
While a bumpy road may be a minor nuisance to drivers, a road littered with potholes can cause serious property damage to your car and even result in a car accident. Unfortunately our firm’s car accident attorneys are hearing more and more about accidents caused by potholes on roads that are too worn down and need repair.
Top-10 Worst U.S. Urban-Area Roadways For Potholes
With five major cities in the top seven, California residents will need to know about the dangers of potholes. San Diego is one of the worst offenders when it comes to potholes, which might be a factor in many of our city’s serious car accident.
- San Jose
- Los Angeles
- Bay Area
- Kansas City
- New Orleans
- San Diego
- Sacramento
- St. Louis
- Omaha
- New York City
Potholes Don’t Just Cause Car Accidents, But Fatal Motorcycle Accidents Too
Sometimes, when a pothole is so severe, or your car is not equipped to handle the blow, it will cause you to lose control of your car. This leads to car accidents that, many times, have caused wrongful deaths.
Motorcycle drivers are at special risk of injury if they ride over a pothole. Having just two wheels on the ground and a lower weight than cars, motorcycles are ill-equipped to handle potholes.
Coupled with fewer safety features, motorcycle accidents caused by potholes are very deadly. Cars and truck are also at risk of getting into an auto accident after running over a pothole. With motorcycles, however, the chances of getting into a serious accident when going over a pothole are greatly increased and possibly deadly.
Some Helpful Hints For Reporting Potholes To State Highway Authority
- Give the exact location of the pothole.
- Be prepared to describe it (length, width, depth).
- Try to remember if you saw or heard rain water in the hole.
- Ask if the hole in a bus route or on trolley or railway tracks.
It is always important to remember that, when dealing with potholes, you will have to expect the unexpected. Since a dangerous situation can arise out of nowhere, it is important to make sure that you are not speeding and are making safe decisions; otherwise, hitting a pothole could cause a car accident.
Call Our Lawyers If You’ve Been Injured In A Car Accident Caused By Potholes
As car accident lawyers, we know that careful drivers have the best chances of avoiding car accidents. A careful driver will also be more likely to avoid an auto accident after hitting a pothole, which means keep your eyes peeled for not just other motorists on the road, but for all the other bumps along the way.
Contact the Car Accident Lawyers of Pines Salomon Injury Lawyers in San Diego, CA for Help Today
For more information, contact an experienced car accident lawyer at Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today.
We proudly serve San Diego County and its surrounding areas:
Pines Salomon Injury Lawyers – La Jolla Office
4660 La Jolla Village Dr. San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 551-2090