Over the years roadway design has clearly improved; however, deficiencies in design, construction, maintenance, signage and traffic control devices still contribute to motor vehicle accidents today.
Factors such as: Banking or camber, or simply stated the angle of the roadway, which is supposed to make it easier for drivers to manage curves, can contribute to an accident if the banking is either insufficient or excessive.
Barriers and/or guard rails which are designed to prevent vehicles from leaving a roadway or to prevent vehicles from crossing a median into oncoming traffic can also contribute to an accident and/or the injuries sustained in an accident when insufficient design and/or foot post spacing is present. Additionally, faulty or improper guardrail end treatments can also contribute to an accident and lead to additional injury and possible death.
Traffic control devices, signage and road markings, which are designed to make travel safer, can often lead to accidents when they are not properly timed, improperly placed or unclear in their intent. While designed to control the safe flow of traffic and inform drivers of approaching intersections, turns and other factors, improper traffic control devices can lead to an accident.
Visibility is another factor that needs to be considered. If a driver does not have sufficient visibility of the roadway or approaching hazards, then the reaction time of the driver may be significantly increased which could result in a single- or multi-vehicle accident.
McDowell Owens’ Engineers and Accident Reconstructionists analyze all applicable factors and accident site to accurately determine the cause, and the factors that led up to and/or contributed to the accident.
