The Dangers of San Diego Potholes
After California’s severe drought last year, the very wet winter months offered some much-needed rainfall in San Diego. Unfortunately, one of the negative effects of this precipitation has been a drastic increase in the number of reported potholes in the area. Between May of 2016 and this past February, the city of San Diego received reports of over 12,000 potholes in the area. Nearly two thirds of these reports occurred in December of 2016 and January of 2017, two months that saw nearly 60% of the area’s typical annual rainfall.
Trouble Spots for Potholes
Two of the most heavily travelled areas, the San Diego International Airport and the Valley View Casino Center, are responsible for many of the pothole reports since 2010. While the busiest areas of San Diego often receive pothole repairs fairly quickly, some citizens report that fixing potholes in less travelled residential areas can take the city years. The recent rainfall led to a boom in pothole reports, and city workers handling the repairs seem to have been struggling to keep pace.
The city of San Diego recently unveiled an easy-to-use online “Get it Done” reporting system for pothole repairs. Citizens can report potholes to the city through the Get it Done website or app. Once a citizen files a request, road crews will fix the pothole within ten days. While this new system led to a significant drop in the number of complaints, the recent wet winter has created a slew of unexpected potholes that city workers are scrambling to fix.
Pothole Dangers
Most drivers simply view potholes as inevitable annoyances. However, the truth is potholes cost American drivers billions of dollars in car repairs each year, and are also responsible for a staggering number of highway deaths. It’s important to recognize potholes as significant dangers instead of just roadway annoyances. While some drivers will go out of their way (when possible) to avoid potholes, other drivers may not think twice about driving straight over them. While some sturdier, higher-sitting vehicles may have no trouble at all with this, smaller cars that sit closer to the ground risk serious damage to vital systems.
Potholes are far more dangerous than most drivers realize. Nearly one third of all traffic fatalities in the United States involve poor road conditions, meaning potholes are likely playing a part in many fatal accidents. Drivers often strike unexpected potholes at high speeds and the impact can easily burst some tires or cause the driver to temporarily lose control of the vehicle. The bump from hitting a pothole can cause some drivers to jerk violently, possibly leading to a head or neck injury. Potholes are also incredibly dangerous for bicyclists. Hitting an unseen pothole can send bicyclists sprawling over their handlebars, suffering significant injuries.
Options After Pothole Accidents
If you’ve suffered an injury due to a pothole in San Diego, you may have the option of filing a lawsuit against the municipality responsible for the road maintenance where you had your accident. Filing a lawsuit against a government agency is very different than filing a civil action against another private citizen or business. You’ll need to retain the services of a reputable San Diego injury attorney or car accident lawyer to represent your case, and do so very quickly after your incident. Filing claims against government agencies requires meeting very strict deadlines, and the statute of limitations is typically much shorter than it is for filing normal civil actions.
The City of San Diego is making a concerted effort to repair the roads in the area, and the recent winter has caused significant delays in this process. Dangerous potholes require timely attention, and if the city fails to fix a dangerous pothole in a reasonable time, anyone who suffers an injury from the pothole may be able to sue for damages.