Alabama Lays Claim to One of the World’s Most Dangerous Roadways

Dec 24, 2014 - Personal Injury by Cross & Smith

Thanks to a 2013 ranking by the World Health Organization, Alabama has the dubious honor of having one of the world’s most dangerous roads. According to Yellowhammer Multimedia, U.S. Route 431, which runs through the state, is also the fourth most deadly road in the U.S., as evidenced by the many memorial crosses placed along the roadway.

Injury victims and families who lose loved ones because of dangerous roads in Tuscaloosa and elsewhere in Alabama may be forced to go against powerful municipalities to seek compensation for their losses. These cases require skilled personal injury lawyers who know both the state and even federal laws that protect the interests of their clients.

Alabama US 431 Received Four Out of Ten on the Fear Factor Scale

A rating of four does not seem too dangerous based on a 10-point scale. However, the primary hazards cited on US 431 are common causes of accidents:

• Poor visibility
• High speed driving
• Sudden changes between two and four lanes of traffic

In just the last week of October, 2014, Navbug.com noted six serious accidents on this road, including a severely-injured deputy who was hit by a car while directing traffic at a wreck site.

Determining Fault for Dangerous Road Accidents is Very Complex

When accidents occur on dangerous roadways, identifying liability is not always a simple matter. Consider some of the possible factors that might have contributed to the deputy’s injuries:

• The motorist may have failed to comply with the state’s “move over” laws.
• The motorist may have been exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for conditions.
• Poor visibility on the road may have contributed to the motorist’s failure to see the deputy early enough.
• The motorist may have been an out-of-towner, unfamiliar with road hazards familiar to drivers who use the road frequently.

Naturally, a single accident can be caused by any combination of factors that create liability on the part of more than one party. This is why our Tuscaloosa personal injury lawyers typically conduct thorough investigations of accidents to identify all parties whose negligence contributed to our clients’ injuries.

Government Immunity Can Impede Justice

Naturally, it seems logical that jurisdictions responsible for creating and maintaining safe roads should be liable for any injuries caused by their failure to meet basic responsibilities. While it is certainly possible for victims to sue the government, this type of lawsuit has its own special challenges. In some cases, state and even Federal immunity law can prevent injury victims from filing a lawsuit. In other cases, victims may be subject to caps on the value of their claims. Of course, any municipality has a team of lawyers available to actively fight any claim.

Experienced Tuscaloosa personal injury lawyers know how to effectively identify all liable parties in a car accident and they are familiar with the many nuances of the law. Injury victims require skilled legal support to help level the playing field in municipal liability cases. Even in the case of dangerous roadway accidents, victims can receive justice under the law.

Additional Resources:

Global Status Report on Road Safety 2013, Full World Health Organization downloadable report

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