Residents in Connecticut may be interested in reading about some of the inherent hazards involved with driving, as described by the Federal Highway Administration. Researchers found that almost 30 percent of all traffic accidents involved horizontal curves on U.S. roadways. Researches also discovered that a crash was three times as more likely to occur on curved roadways than on the tangent sections of the roadway.
Horizontal curves may be described as changes in the level of alignment on the roadway that can increase demands on the pavement, the vehicle and the motorist behind the wheel. The challenges these sections of the road present are compounded when motorists are traveling under adverse conditions, such as driving at night or in inclement weather. According to the agency, horizontal curves should be the primary focal points of any safety upgrades added to the roadways. The agency also claims that states should have a process developed for identifying and rectifying horizontal curves that be potentially dangerous.
One of the factors identified as a primary contributor to these types of accidents involving horizontal curves is the poor placement of warning signs. The strategic placement of the warning signs leading into these curves may be the most cost-effective preventative measure to mitigate the risk of these accidents occurring. Florescent signs and sheeting has proven to reduce the rate of fatal accidents and crashes resulting in injury by up to 45 percent.
Anyone who suffers a serious injury from an accident caused by another driver may wish to have an attorney investigate the evidence surrounding the crash in order to identify who should be held responsible. Successful plaintiffs in these cases are often awarded damages for medical expenses, repair costs and lost wages.
