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Common Road Problems in Louisiana and Possible Solutions

Published on Jan 22, 2025 at 7:32 pm in Car Accident.

Perform an online search about the integrity of roadways in Louisiana, and you’ll quickly find plenty of articles about ours here in the Bayou State, being among the worst in the country, according to the local radio station KPEL 96.5. Why is it about them that’s so bad that they rank high on the list of the worst in the nation, and why does it matter anyway?

Below, we discuss common road problems in Louisiana and possible solutions for resolving those issues.

Problems Associated With Louisiana Roadways

You probably don’t need any reminding of how bad our road conditions in Louisiana can be. Common issues motorists have to contend with include:

  • Cracking and potholes: These are often caused by the over-saturation of our roads and underlying soil with rainwater from thunderstorms and hurricanes, which affect the integrity of the asphalt.
  • Uneven pavement: This is more common in the lower-lying, swampy area. Since the soil is constantly wet or soaked, there’s a gradual sinking of our area’s roads, which can lead to roads dipping or being on different levels.
  • Damaged median barriers: The pylons, concrete barriers, and wire bounceback setups that are ever-present on busy highways and interstates may become damaged in accidents or inclement weather situations. Unless fixed, they may leave motorists vulnerable to becoming involved in crashes, such as head-on accidents.
  • Disappearing lane lines and reflectors: Sun, rain, potholes, and wear and tear all can cause painted lines between lanes to fade and reflectors to no longer be adhered to the roadway, making it challenging for motorists to maintain their lane, leaving them at risk of becoming involved in a collision.
  • Damaged or removed street signs or malfunctioning signals: Although not specifically tied to an actual road’s condition, we rely on stop signs and lights, for example, to know how to proceed. If they’re damaged or stolen and not visible for the present, it could lead to an unnecessary crash.
  • Over-accumulations of asphalt: This, as we’ll discuss further below, is often caused by oversized trucks navigating Louisiana roadways. These bumps that are created can damage the undercarriage of your vehicle, affecting its roadworthiness, ultimately leading to a collision, and can affect steering, braking, and other aspects of navigating a vehicle.

The above are only a few of many examples of problem road conditions motorists frequently encounter in Louisiana.

Why Are Our State’s Roads in Poor Condition?

If you’re wondering why our state has streets, boulevards, circles, and other roadways in inferior condition compared to other jurisdictions, the following factors may be to blame:

  • A lack of governmental funding for road projects
  • Poor prioritization of roadways needing repairs
  • The existence of limited weight stations and/or enforcement of policies to restrict the use of overweight tractor-trailers
  • Constant environmental issues that affect road integrity (such as persistent sun or rain)
  • The abundance of trucks traveling to and fro across Louisiana carrying goods (which puts wear and tear on our roadways)

Hazards Associated With Louisiana Road Problems

Our bumpy, potholed, and worn-out roadways in the Bayou State are more than aesthetically displeasing and rough to ride on; they’re downright dangerous. Here at Bianca | Matkins, we’ve found ourselves representing far too many individuals, perhaps like you, who have suffered debilitating injuries or prematurely lost their lives in Baton Rouge car accidents caused by poor road conditions.

While you may know that a pothole or unexpected “speed bump” caused by an unanticipated accumulation of asphalt may cause you to have difficulty stopping or propelling your vehicle ahead, causing it to collide with a pedestrian, others may not. This can certainly happen, though.

Additionally, even if a crash does not initially occur upon encountering problematic roads in Baton Rouge, it could just be a matter of time.

Poorly maintained roads can cause damage to your vehicle, such as its shocks, that, if left unaddressed, can ultimately affect the roadworthiness of your vehicle, leaving your automobile prone to mechanical issues that give way to a wreck.

What To Do If You Believe Problematic Baton Rouge Roads Played a Role in Causing Your Injury Accident

If you notice a potentially hazardous road condition in Louisiana, you need to do your part to report it to the local or state officials so it can be noted and repaired. You should also share this information on road navigation apps like Google Maps or Waze so that others can make informed decisions to avoid the area.

Sometimes, despite you doing your best to notify the respective government agencies of the problematic roads and putting the info on apps, it’s too little, too late, and collisions occur.

Know this if you were involved in a wreck in Baton Rouge or elsewhere in Louisiana yourself.

Louisiana is an at-fault insurance state. Why do we bring that up? Because it allows you to hold another party whose negligence resulted in you suffering harm accountable for their actions.

How does this relate to the part of our title where we promised to touch on the possible solutions for road problems in Louisiana? It has to do with taking legal action and holding those parties who are responsible for maintaining roads liable for not having done so.

Doing this doesn’t mean that you can’t hold the driver who was speeding, distracted, or otherwise in the wrong accountable for the role they played in causing your crash, though. You can hold them liable for their actions, too.

While there are likely plenty of other solutions to address our state’s road problems when you’re hurt, all that matters is who is going to pay your bills while you recover or grieve your loved one’s unexpected loss.

We know a great deal about the steps you need to take to seek financial accountability for others after Baton Rouge car crashes.

So, get in touch with us at Bianca | Matkins to discuss your case and your rights. Your initial consultation with one of our attorneys is free.

 

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