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Father of California Accident Victim Blames Unsafe Road for Death

Earlier this month, a young college student was killed on Interstate 15 when her car plowed through a concrete barrier at a construction site.  Her father blames the lack of warnings and reflectors at the site for her death.

18-year-old Junethea Centeno was driving on Interstate 15 at around 3 AM on April 12 10, when she lost control of her car.  The car crashed into a barrier, killing the young woman.  Her father insists that there were no reflectors, or other aids at the site of the accident, and believes that if she had some warning, then the accident could have been prevented.  The California Department of Transportation has refused to comment on the accident.

The California Highway Patrol has begun an investigation into the accident.  According to authorities, there is nothing to indicate that alcohol was a factor in this crash.  The speed of the car was estimated to be at around 70 to 75 mph at the time of the crash.

Detective highway design and road construction can definitely be a factor in road accidents in California.  Sometimes, defects can be seen in the very design of the road.  For instance, defective design can be seen in roads that encourage speeding, or prevent drivers from seeing possible accident hazards.  Unfortunately, many of our highways and roads were designed several decades ago, and the design that may have been suitable then, has failed to stand the test of time in many instances.  In many cases, the population demographics of the area have changed, and the number of motorists using a particular highway has increased.  The older road design has simply turned unsafe.  Besides, road design may also be unsafe if there are unnecessary barriers and obstacles that prevent drivers from identifying accident hazards.

Roads may also be dangerous because of poor construction and maintenance.  Maintenance of roads, in fact, is becoming a factor in more highway accidents as the recession causes highway safety budgets to be slashed in many states across the country.  This has meant lower funds for maintenance, replacement of guardrails, replacing of faulty lights and other safety features.  The lack of proper road illumination increases the risks of accident when a driver fails to identify accident hazards.  The lack of appropriate signage can also be a factor in accidents.  Besides, roads may also suffer from a lack of stop signals or traffic lights.

Often, Los Angeles dangerous roads attorneys see that  it doesn’t take major changes to a road to make it safe for motorists to use.  A simple traffic light, or the presence of warning signs at a construction site can alert motorists to the risk of accidents.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of unsafe roads. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire to discuss a personal injury matter,  you can reach us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

 

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