$14,500,000
Poor intersection design fatality
Dangerous Road Design Lawyers In California
Dangerous Road Design Lawyers
In California
Injured on a dangerous road in California and need an attorney? Call GJEL road-design lawyers at (925) 253-5800 for a free case review 24/7.
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Safe roads on which to travel
Throughout California freeways, highways and roads are being built and expanded to allow for the increasing amount of drivers that travel them. Many of the roads in California are in disrepair or under construction. Road construction and hazardous roadways pose an enormous threat to drivers and passengers. Unanticipated debris in the road and other construction related hazards increase the risk of auto accidents. You may not realize that after a crash, the road itself—not another driver—can be a major cause of the accident. Dangerous road design, missing safety features, or unsafe construction conditions can make a collision unavoidable even when you are driving responsibly.
It is the responsibility of the California Department of Transportation to maintain all roads and freeways within the state of California, therefore providing automobile drivers, bicyclists, truckers, and motorcyclists with safe roads on which to travel. As a Californian, you have the right to operate your vehicle on roads which are free from preventable hazards. Even if you were driving carefully and following traffic laws, you can still have a valid claim when dangerous road design or poor maintenance contributed to your injuries. Poorly designed and maintained roads result in thousands of traffic accidents in the U.S. each year. In many cases, the government agency responsible for the roadway already knew—or should have known—that the road was unsafe and failed to correct the danger or warn drivers, which can establish legal responsibility for your injuries. Listed below are some examples of hazardous roadways:
Bad road design, in which the lanes are not wide enough or have extensive wear.
- Broken pavement
- Construction zones, in particular those which lack visible warning signs
- Loose gravel
- Rate of incline
- Poor lighting
- Potholes
- Unsafe guardrails
Dangerous road conditions like these commonly lead to rollover accidents, run-off-road crashes, loss-of-control accidents, head-on collisions, and pedestrian or bicycle injuries when you have little or no time to react.
Get started in 3 simple steps
- Discuss Your Crash With a Roadway Defect Attorney Review how roadway design or maintenance contributed to your injuries.
- We Investigate Government Negligence We analyze design flaws, maintenance failures, and safety standards.
- You Pursue Public Accountability and Compensation We seek recovery under public-entity liability laws.
Free case review
Not sure if you have a case? Start with a conversation.
Tell us what happened. A GJEL lawyer will review it, explain your options, and tell you honestly whether the firm can help.
- Reviewed by a GJEL lawyer
- Free and confidential
- No obligation
- No fee unless we win
Millions recovered for our clients
$7,200,000
Missing guardrail rollover crash
$3,400,000
Government road defect liability
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case turns on its own facts, injuries and insurance coverage.
Highways and roads should be properly maintained and safely constructed in order to keep drivers and their occupants safe while traveling on them. In addition, warning signs must be posted at all road and highway construction sites to inform drivers that road work is being done and that they must be use extreme caution. Proving a dangerous road design case often requires evidence beyond a police report, including roadway measurements, design plans, maintenance records, photographs, and expert analysis to show how the road itself caused or contributed to your accident.
If you or a loved one have been injured due to unsafe or hazardous roadway conditions, we invite you to call GJEL 1-855-508-9565 to speak with an experienced dangerous road attorney at Gillin, Jacobson, Ellis, Larsen & Lucey today to discuss your legal options. Dangerous road design claims are often brought against city, county, or state agencies, and these claims must usually be filed within much shorter deadlines than standard personal injury cases, meaning waiting too long can permanently bar your right to compensation. We provide free consultations, and we’re paid only when we win your claim. If a dangerous road condition and another driver both contributed to your accident, you may be able to pursue claims against multiple parties rather than being limited to only one source of recovery.
You’ll pay no fees if we don’t obtain a verdict or settlement for you. Holding government agencies accountable for dangerous road conditions can also lead to safety improvements such as redesigned intersections, improved warnings, and corrected road geometry, helping prevent others from being injured the same way you were.
Free case review
Questions about what comes next? Ask a lawyer.
Get a clear answer about deadlines, insurance, and your options before you decide what to do.
- Reviewed by a GJEL lawyer
- Free and confidential
- No obligation
- No fee unless we win
Can I bring a claim if the road caused my crash?
Yes. After a crash the road itself, not another driver, can be a major cause. Caltrans is responsible for maintaining state roads and freeways, and local agencies maintain their own streets. When a dangerous design or poor maintenance contributed to your injuries, you can have a valid claim even if you were driving carefully and following traffic laws.
What counts as a dangerous road condition?
Common examples include bad road design where lanes are too narrow or badly worn, broken pavement, construction zones without visible warning signs, loose gravel, steep inclines, poor lighting, potholes, and unsafe guardrails. Conditions like these commonly lead to rollover accidents, run-off-road crashes, loss-of-control collisions, head-on crashes, and injuries to people walking or riding bicycles.
How do you prove a government agency is responsible?
The key question is notice. In many cases the agency responsible for the roadway already knew, or should have known, that the road was unsafe and failed to correct the danger or warn drivers. Prior complaints, crash history at the same location, maintenance records, and design documents are what establish that, and obtaining them takes investigation.
Is there a shorter deadline for claims against a government agency?
Yes, and this is the reason not to wait. Claims against a California public entity must be presented to that entity well before the ordinary two-year injury deadline, and missing that window can end an otherwise strong case. If you believe a road defect played a part in your crash, have it reviewed quickly.
What kinds of results has GJEL obtained in road design cases?
Our published results in this area include $14,500,000 for a fatality caused by poor intersection design, $7,200,000 for a rollover crash involving a missing guardrail, and $3,400,000 in a government road defect liability case. Every case is different, and these results show what is possible, not what is promised.
Andrew (Andy) R. Gillin is a founding partner of GJEL Accident Attorneys and has practiced personal injury law in California state and federal courts since 1970. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School and co-founded GJEL in 1972. Over the course of his career, Andy has helped hundreds of injured plaintiffs recover compensation, including multiple seven-figure settlements and verdicts. He specializes in serious injury and wrongful death cases and holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, with recognition from Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America.
Tell us what happened. We handle the rest.
✓
Thank you
A lawyer will personally review your case and call you shortly.
We’ll call from a local number and tell you when to expect us.