Virginia Dangerous Roadway Attorneys
While most collisions are caused by negligence on the part of motorists, a defect or dangerous condition with the roadway could be the cause of others. Like any other piece of infrastructure, roads can deteriorate and become damaged over time. If they are not well maintained and if hazards are not addressed, the city, state, or other governmental entity responsible for their upkeep could be held liable for the crash.
Defective roadway claims could stem from issues with the roads themselves or could also center on defective roadway equipment, such as signs, railings, or lights. Claims against governmental entities are much different from traditional car accident actions, and you should be aware that most drivers will still be accused of having been at fault for the auto accidents they are involved in.
When you have been involved in any kind of motor vehicle accident which you believed was attributable to a dangerous roadway, you are going to want to quickly contact CHASENBOSCOLO. Our firm is capable of performing a completely independent investigation into your crash and can work with accident reconstruction experts to help prove how a defective roadway caused or contributed to an accident.
We treat our clients the same way we treat our family members and friends, so you will immediately know that we are committed to helping you recover everything that you are entitled to. Our firm will explore all of your legal options as soon as you call (703) 538-1138 or contact us online to set up a free consultation.
Do I Need A Dangerous Roadway Lawyer?
It is essential to get an attorney involved in your case as soon as possible because of the notice that you are required to provide a governmental agency in Virginia. Whereas a person typically has two years to file a lawsuit against a negligent party in Virginia, Virginia Code § 8.01-195.6 establishes that a notice of claim for a personal injury action against the Commonwealth of Virginia has to be submitted within one year of the accident.
It is important to note that certain other local governmental agencies could have even shorter limitations periods in these cases as Virginia Code § 15.2-209 only gives a person six months to submit a notice of claim with a county, city, or town. So, you will want to have a lawyer who can ensure that all of the necessary actions are taken before it is too late. An attorney will be able to handle all of the required legal legwork involved in your case so you can stay at home and focus on your own recovery.
You are also going to want a lawyer’s help proving that a defective roadway was to blame for your accident. The chances are excellent that the governmental agency involved is going to deny liability and claim that you were at fault for your accident. Remember that the insurance companies representing these public entities are focused solely on paying you as little as possible, and they will do whatever they can to make sure they do not have to pay you any more than they are forced to.
An attorney who is able to secure the evidence needed to prove that a dangerous roadway was the cause of a motor vehicle accident will be in a stronger position to negotiate a just settlement to these kinds of cases. The lawyer can also file a lawsuit when a settlement proves impossible.
Why Choose CHASENBOSCOLO To Handle My Dangerous Roadway Case?
CHASENBOSCOLO has recovered over $750 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients. We have handled more than 500 jury trials in just the past five years.
Barry M. Chasen has over 30 years of legal experience and is a member of the American Association for Justice. He also received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is a peer rating denoting the highest level of professional excellence.
Benjamin T. Boscolo also received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is also a member of the American Association for Justice. He also served as a Workers Compensation Panelist for both the National Football Players Association and Major League Soccer Players Association.
When you work with CHASENBOSCOLO, you also get our No Fee Guarantee®. Simply put, you do not pay us anything unless you obtain a monetary award.
Types of Dangerous Roadway Cases We Handle
Several different conditions can contribute to creating what constitutes a dangerous roadway. In general, some of the most common examples of things that public entities charged with maintaining roadways could be responsible for correcting include, but are not limited to:
- Potholes
- Dangerous drop-offs
- Inadequate guardrails
- Obstructed road signs or traffic lights
- Broken traffic lights
- Inadequate lighting
- Improper signs
- Failure to warn about road work
- Bridge defects
- Insufficient medians or line striping
- Lack of shoulder
- Dangerous intersections
- Roadway debris
Liability can be difficult in dangerous roadway claims because there will always be an issue of how long a defect existed and whether the governmental agency had enough time to become aware of it. Poorly constructed roadway claims are easier to pursue than failure to maintain claims.
Virginia does provide an exception to the one year notice of claim requirement for cases in which knowledge of a defect is not learned until later. Some people may be able to avoid the one year notice of claim requirement when they discover the nature of a roadway defect after the one-year period has passed.
Contact a Dangerous Roadway Attorney in Virginia
An accident caused by a dangerous roadway often leaves people wondering what they can do and how they can hold somebody accountable for the cause of their crash. You do not need to worry about trying to get answers yourself when you are working with CHASENBOSCOLO.
Our firm will be able to examine all of the factors involved in your accident and fight to make sure that governmental entities are held accountable when they did not make necessary improvements to dangerous conditions. Call (703) 538-1138 or contact us online to take advantage of a free consultation.
