Bike Accident Caused by Potholes and Other Road Hazards

If you bike regularly, chances are you or someone you know has been involved in a bike accident caused by potholes and other road hazards. Bicycle tires are thin, and, when compared to large automobiles, bikes are unstable. A pothole or an uneven sewer grate would only cause a bit of a bump for a car driver, but for a biker it might cause an accident.

Defining Road Hazards

Road hazards consist of potholes, sewer grates, or tracks on the roadway. Potholes can occur from wear and tear on the roads, especially after winter when repeated freezing and thawing can deteriorate the asphalt. Potholes can also occur when fixes to cracks and other potholes in the roadway are poor and do not hold up to wear.

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If You Have Been in a Bike Accident Caused by Potholes and Other Road Hazards

If you have been in a bike accident caused by potholes and other road hazards, you may have a claim against the county, city, or jurisdiction responsible for maintaining the roads. If the pothole was the result of temporary repair work, a sunken area, or other damage to the road, the jurisdiction may be responsible if they were aware of the problem and did not block off the area or place caution signs nearby.

If the pothole was due to wear and tear on the roads, or the result of a recent snow or ice storm, the jurisdiction may be responsible if they were aware of the problem. If it was a recent issue that has only been present for several days, they may not be responsible. But if the pothole has been around for weeks or longer, the city, county, or other jurisdiction may be held legally responsible.

Sewer grates can be dangerous to bikers, especially when the bars go in the same direction of traffic. When this happens, tires can become jammed or stuck between the bars which can cause a bicycle crash. Many cities have incurred the time and expense to change grates to go against the flow of traffic or installed special cross-hatch grates. If the jurisdiction where you bike has not done this, and a sewer grate causes your accident, they may be held responsible.

Obviously, cases like these can be very complicated. No county or city is going to eagerly accept responsibility for your bicycle accident. That is why it is crucial to have an experienced bicycle crash attorney on your side. If you have been in a bike accident caused by potholes and other road hazards and you contact Kass & Moses, an attorney will work with you individually to help determine if you can hold your local city or county responsible for the crash. In many cases, they can be responsible for your damages. Damages may include your medical bills, damage to your bike, time away from work, and any ongoing physical problems you may face.

Bikers have just as much of a right to be on the road as everyone else. We pay our taxes and are good citizens, and we have a right to have safe roadways. If you have been in a bike accident caused by potholes and other road hazards, contact Kass & Moses today for a free consultation.