When a devastating accident happens due to defective highway design, the physical, emotional, and financial consequences can be overwhelming. Victims are often left facing a long and painful recovery process, unable to work and support their families. Medical bills pile up quickly, and the future can feel incredibly uncertain. It's a terrible situation that no one should have to endure alone.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a crash caused by unsafe road conditions in Washington state, know that you have rights and options. The experienced attorneys at Swanson Gardner Meyers Cohon PLLC are here to help. We have decades of experience handling complex defective highway cases and fighting tirelessly to secure the full and fair compensation our clients deserve.
While state and local transportation departments are responsible for ensuring our roads meet stringent safety standards, sadly, there are instances where negligent design, construction, or maintenance practices contribute to life-altering crashes. These cases can be challenging to prove, but our skilled legal team has the knowledge, resources, and determination to build the strongest possible claim on your behalf.
Our track record speaks for itself. In one case, we represented a client critically injured due to a deceptive city road, ultimately winning a $13.23 million jury verdict - one of the largest in Washington history. Another client was hurt by a confusing temporary traffic signal near Sea-Tac Airport. Our investigation revealed a pattern of prior wrecks there. We took the case to trial and secured a six-figure verdict, the maximum possible at that time.
We also obtained a $3.3 million settlement for a client severely burned after sliding into an improperly constructed median on a state highway. Rather than installing protective guardrails, WSDOT allowed an earthen berm that failed to redirect our client's car away from massive overpass support pillars, resulting in a fiery explosion. Through meticulous case development, we proved the berm wasn't built to specifications.
Types of Defective Highway Designs
Poorly designed, constructed, or maintained roads pose a serious threat to the safety of Washington drivers. When transportation departments and contractors cut corners or fail to follow proper engineering or maintenance standards, the results can be catastrophic. Some of the most common types of defective highway design include:
Inadequate or Dangerous On/Off Ramps
Lack of Proper Signage and Road Markings
Unprotected Roadside Hazards
Defective Intersection Design
Dangerous Construction Zones
Poor Drainage and Ponding
Defective Road Materials and Maintenance
Who Is To Blame For a Road Defect?
When a serious accident happens due to unsafe road conditions, it's critical to identify all parties who may share the blame. Multiple entities are often responsible for designing, constructing, and maintaining our highways and streets. Depending on the specific facts, a defective roadway lawsuit may target:
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) oversees the design, construction, and maintenance of state highways, freeways, bridges, and other infrastructure. County and municipal road departments handle many local thoroughfares. These agencies must ensure that roadways are safe for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. When they fail to meet this obligation through negligent design choices, skimping on materials, or shoddy maintenance practices, they can be held liable for resulting accidents and injuries.
Public works projects often involve numerous private companies hired to handle surveying, grading, paving, striping, signage installation, and other key tasks. If these contractors perform substandard work or disregard approved plans and specifications, they may be held responsible for creating hazardous conditions. Sometimes, they may even cut corners to boost profits or meet unrealistic deadlines, putting motorists at risk.
Roadway design typically starts with professional engineers and architects who create detailed plans and schematics. These experts are supposed to follow established safety standards and guidelines while accounting for factors like traffic volume, vehicle speeds, sight distances, and drainage requirements. When their designs are inherently flawed or fail to address known hazards, these firms can be held accountable for resulting wrecks.
Modern roadbuilding involves a wide array of materials, from asphalt and concrete to steel guardrails and high-tech signaling equipment. If these components are defective, improperly labeled, or inadequate for their intended use, the manufacturers and suppliers may be liable for accidents that occur as a result. This is especially true if they misrepresent the capabilities or quality of their products.
Many serious crashes happen due to visual obstructions and hazards in the right-of-way adjacent to roadways. Utility poles, junction boxes, drainage culverts, trees, and shrubbery that block drivers' view or create dangerous fixed objects may be the responsibility of phone, cable, electric, gas, water, or sewer providers. In some cases, the government entities that permitted them to be installed too close to the road may also share fault.
Determining who is responsible for a defective roadway accident isn’t easy. That's why it's so important to have a knowledgeable attorney in your corner who can thoroughly investigate the crash and identify all potential defendants. The lawyers at Swanson Gardner Meyers Cohon have decades of combined experience in handling these challenging cases. We frequently partner with renowned accident reconstruction specialists, traffic engineers, and transportation policy experts to understand how an unsafe road caused a wreck.
Our team will analyze police reports, survey data, design plans, maintenance records, and other key evidence to build the strongest possible case for liability. We'll also interview eyewitnesses, first responders, and other motorists who experienced similar close calls or crashes on the same stretch of road. Armed with these powerful facts, we'll aggressively negotiate with insurance companies and government agencies for a swift and favorable settlement. If they refuse to offer fair compensation, we won't hesitate to take them to court and fight for your rights at trial.
Our Injury Law Firm Will Fight For You & Justice
As an innocent victim of a roadway-related accident, you are facing a difficult battle. Your injuries may require extensive medical treatment, surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Permanent impairments could mean you cannot return to your job and support your family. The physical, emotional, and financial tolls are immense.
That's why it's so critical to have aggressive legal advocates in your corner fighting for the full and fair compensation you deserve. The dedicated attorneys at Swanson Gardner Meyers Cohon will work tirelessly to determine how defective highway design may have caused your accident. We'll gather evidence, interview witnesses, analyze police reports, and consult with experts to construct the most compelling case possible.
While a settlement or court award can never undo the trauma you've suffered, it can provide vital resources to help you heal and rebuild your life. Damages in a defective roadway lawsuit may include:
Past, current, and future medical expenses
Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Disability and disfigurement
Loss of enjoyment of life
Wrongful death damages for lost loved ones
Contact Our Seattle Road Defect Attorneys
If you or a family member has been seriously harmed in a motor vehicle crash involving unsafe highway conditions, please contact Swanson Gardner Meyers Cohon for a free consultation. You'll get an honest, thorough evaluation of your potential case from a team that truly cares.
Remember, you pay nothing unless and until we succeed in recovering money for you. Let our compassionate attorneys handle the legal heavy lifting so you can focus on healing. You've been through so much already - you deserve justice, accountability, and every penny of compensation possible. Contact Swanson Gardner Meyers Cohon today to get started on the road to recovery.
