Motorcyclists have many things to worry about whenever they ride. They have to constantly be on the lookout for other drivers, watch for pedestrians or wildlife crossing in front of them, maintain a safe and steady speed, and keep an eye on weather conditions.
But one thing they should be able to take for granted are roads that are structurally sound and safe. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
Many roads in Oklahoma are poorly maintained or constructed by the local and state government. For many drivers, worn and weathered roads are nothing more than annoyances, but for motorcyclists, the defects they encounter can be extremely dangerous and even deadly. And when those defects cause crashes, injured riders deserve compensation.
Injured Riders Can Sue When Dangerous Roads Cause Them to Crash
No one expects roads to be in perfect condition all the time. But they shouldn’t put drivers and riders in an unreasonable amount of danger—especially when government workers or contractors are aware of major defects and have neglected to address them.
Riders may be eligible to file claims against the parties that are responsible for designing, building, or maintaining the roads where they crashed if any of the following risk factors contributed to the crash:
- Large potholes
- Broken and cracked asphalt
- Inadequate speed limits, especially on dangerous curves
- Debris that wasn’t cleaned up in a timely manner
- Lack of lane markings
- Drop-offs with no guardrails
- Lack of signage indicating risk factors in the road
These are just a few possible causes of motorcycle crashes that can be attributed to a negligent government that failed to keep drivers and riders safe. If you were injured as a result of a road condition that isn’t listed here, contact our team for a free consultation to see if you’re eligible for compensation.
Lawsuits Can’t Be Filed Against the Government, But CAN Be Filed Against Workers and Contractors
In the U.S., governments are often protected from lawsuits via Sovereign Immunity. This includes both the federal government and state governments. Local municipalities also have some protection against lawsuits, although not as much as the federal government or the state of Oklahoma does.
When injured riders sue because dangerous road conditions caused them to crash, their lawsuits are typically filed against government employees whose negligence caused those riders to crash. They can also be filed against companies hired by the government to design, build, or maintain the road. These exemptions to Sovereign Immunity are granted through the Oklahoma Tort Claims Act.
If you have questions about who may be liable for your injuries after a motorcycle crash, contact a lawyer for a free consultation.
Our Law Firm Knows Dangerous Road Accident Claims
Holding the government liable for an injury in Oklahoma is difficult or even impossible in some cases—even when it was clearly negligent in maintaining safe road conditions. But governments as a whole aren’t the only parties that can be held liable for dangerous road-related accidents.
At Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers, our Oklahoma motorcycle accident attorneys know that many parties can have a hand in ensuring roads are kept safe for everyone in the state. When riders come to us after crashes that were caused directly by dangerous road conditions, we work hard to determine who was liable and whether victims can sue for compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and more. Then we work to make sure our clients get the full compensation they are owed.
Contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll review the facts of what happened and do everything in our power to get you maximum compensation.
