Dangerous Roads and Sidewalk Defects

When people are injured due to dangerous roads or neglected sidewalks, property owners and government agencies can be held liable.

What are dangerous road claims and defective sidewalk claims?

We entrust PennDOT and other government agencies to design, build, and maintain safe roads throughout the state. Unfortunately some of Pennsylvania’s roads are among the deadliest in the country, with problems such as substandard construction, poor maintenance, inadequate traffic control, narrow lanes, and sharp curves.

Similarly, we rely on property owners to keep sidewalks safe for pedestrians, however improper construction and negligent maintenance, result in hazardous conditions that lead to slips, falls, and serious injuries.

When someone is injured due to poorly designed or neglected roads and sidewalks, we hold the responsible parties accountable by seeking compensation for the victims or the victims’ survivors

How can McMillen Urick Tocci & Jones Help Me?

We have the experience and resources to take on insurance companies and PennDOT to recover the compensation that you are entitled to if you have been injured in a fall or accident due to a dangerous sidewalk or road. For example our attorneys went to trial against PennDOT for its failure to conduct a traffic study at an extremely dangerous intersection because the tiny municipality where the roads were located could not afford to pay for a stop light. We were successful in proving that PennDOT was negligent and recovered $1 million for the families of victims who died in an accident at that location. After the claim was filed PennDOT also installed warning lights at the intersection.

I was injured in an accident due to a dangerous road or sidewalk. What should I do?

It is imperative that you contact an attorney as soon as possible after an injury that could involve a dangerous road or defective sidewalk.

If PennDOT or another governmental agency is responsible, Pennsylvania law requires that you provide written notice of your claim within six months of the accident. Additionally you need a legal team to conduct an investigation of the accident scene much sooner than that. Eyewitness accounts and key evidence are easiest to access in the hours and days immediately following the accidental injury and conditions can change quickly, whether by actions of the responsible party or weather.

The longer you wait, the more difficult it can be to gather vital evidence to support your claim and secure the compensation to which you are entitled.

What is the value of my claim?

Damages in dangerous road and defective sidewalk cases can include:

  • Medical Bills
  • Lost Wages, Including Overtime
  • Pain and Suffering
  • Physical Disability
  • Disfigurement
  • Permanent Scars
  • Emotional Trauma
  • Mental Anguish
  • Loss of Enjoyment
  • Loss of Love & Affection
  • Embarrassment
  • Mental Disability
  • Property Damage

How much will this cost?

We offer free initial consultations on accident and injury claims, and you pay nothing unless we secure a fair award or settlement.