Car accidents caused by road debris happen quite often. There are many car accidents caused by road debris every year in Virginia. That is not surprising given the number of vehicles that travel the roads every day. With millions of registered private and commercial vehicles in the state, it is not surprising that debris falls off vehicles from time to time.
In many accidents that are caused by road debris, it is very hard to prove who is responsible for the debris and resulting crash. That is why having an experienced lawyer is advantageous. An attorney who is knowledgeable and skilled with these types of cases will have the resources to investigate the debris and determine who is at fault. If you have been seriously injured in this type of accident, the best path to recover compensation is to contact an experienced lawyer.
Road debris can be just about anything, but if it causes an accident, it usually is big enough or with enough substance to damage a car. Sometimes, accidents are caused when a vehicle strikes something big and heavy, sending the car veering off the road. In these accidents, the tires are often hit by the debris, causing them to blow out and making the driver lose control of the vehicle. In other road debris accidents, the crash is caused by the driver seeing the debris in the road and attempting to swerve around it and then losing control of the vehicle, causing a collision.
Common types of road debris that cause accidents include:
- Pieces of vehicles.
- Loose tires.
- Traffic signs.
- Traffic cones.
- Pieces of metal.
- Household items.
- Barrels.
- Boxes.
- Garbage bags.
- Buckets.
- Commercial products.
- Chains.
- Tools.
- Ladders.
These are all the types of road debris that could cause a driver to lose control of their car and swerve off the road or crash into another vehicle. The debris could have been laying in the road for a long time or could have just fallen off a vehicle.
Who Is Responsible for a Road Debris Accident?
In most cases involving road debris, the person or entity who created the dangerous condition is the one that most likely will be held responsible for a crash and injuries. However, these cases are complex and can be difficult to prove.
For example, how do you prove who owns a shovel laying in the middle of the road? It is possible, such as if there is video evidence or even witnesses of the shovel falling off a commercial vehicle.
In order to pursue a legal case, you have to prove who caused the road debris. In order to file a lawsuit seeking compensation, there has to be a defendant that you can name in the lawsuit. You have to have evidence that proves someone caused the road debris accident. Once you have an at-fault party, you have to demonstrate that they were negligent in some manner and their negligence caused the debris and your resulting damages.
Here are the various parties that could be responsible for a road debris accident:
- Construction companies.
- Property owners who own property adjacent to a road.
- Government entity that is responsible for road construction projects and traffic signs.
- Drivers.
- Corporations who own vehicles and commercial trucks.
Types of Evidence That Prove Who Is Responsible for Road Debris Accidents
There are many types of evidence that could prove a party is responsible for a road debris accident. The evidence would have to be substantial enough to be able to be used in trial. This means that whatever evidence your lawyer collects, it has to be credible. Here are some examples of the evidence that can be used in a road debris accident:
- Witness testimony where the witness actually saw the debris fall off a car, truck, or tractor-trailer.
- Dash cam video from a car that shows the incident and the debris falling off a vehicle and landing in the road.
- Company name printed on the debris, such as a box full of products, so your lawyer can track it back to a specific company that caused the debris that was left in the roadway.
- Government signs and traffic control devices that are clearly government owned and used in a specific construction zone.
- Security cameras from nearby businesses, porch doorbell cameras on residential homes, and cameras on intersection stop lights that show the road debris falling off a vehicle and resulting accident.
Virginia Beach Car Crash Lawyers Help Seriously Injured People Recover Compensation for Road Debris Accidents
If you have been seriously injured by road debris, speak with one of our Virginia Beach car crash lawyers today. The best decision to make is to hire an experienced lawyer who has the knowledge and skills to investigate your complex case. Our legal team at East Coast Trial Lawyers are here to help you through this difficult time. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 757-352-2237 or contact us online. Located in Virginia Beach, we proudly serve clients across Chesapeake, Eastern Shore, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk, Virginia, as well as North Carolina and nationwide.
