A single-vehicle car accident in St. Joseph has sent a young man to the hospital with serious injuries. While police are still investigating, road construction or dangerous road conditions in the area might have been a factor.
Car Accident in St. Joseph Hurts One
The crash happened shortly after midnight of Tuesday, December 6, 2016. 22-year-old Ozzie Rodriguez, a St. Joseph resident, was driving an old El Camino car northbound on North Riverside Road when he slammed into a concrete traffic barrier at the intersection of Frederick Boulevard. The crash totaled the vehicle, crushing the entire front portion. Rodriguez suffered severe injuries in the crash, and was transported to Mosaic Life Care, and then to the hospital at the University of Kansas. He is listed in serious condition.
Police are still investigating the cause of the crash. However, there is no indication that Rodriguez will be charged for drunk or drugged driving at this stage.
Construction and Road Dangers Can Cause Accidents
When people think of car accidents, they often jump to the conclusion that there was more than one vehicle involved. Additionally, when they learn that there was only a single car in the crash, they automatically assume that the driver was doing something reckless, was under the influence, or was at least driving while distracted.
Many times, though, this is not the case. Especially at night, some roads can be designed poorly enough that drivers get confused, putting themselves in danger. When you add road construction and concrete traffic barriers into the mix, things get even worse. This is especially true for people who are residents in the area, like Mr. Rodriguez. If you’re driving along a familiar route and encounter a new traffic pattern, it can be a shock. When this happens at night, you might not even notice the new obstacles until it is too late.
St. Joseph Car Accident Attorneys at the Smith Law Office
Some roads are designed better than others when it comes to driver safety. It’s one of the reasons why we have lists of the worst roads in the country.
This is why getting into a car accident on one of these roads might not be your fault. If the road was designed in a way that maximized driver confusion and lead to your accident, you could stand to get compensation from the people and organizations who were ultimately responsible for your personal injury. Additionally, construction crews can drastically change traffic patterns on even the safest streets while they do road work. If they don’t adequately account for the safety of drivers while they do road work, they could be responsible for a serious car accident.
If you get into a single-car accident in the St. Joseph area, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it was your fault. That’s why you need to have a car accident attorney, like those at the Smith Law Office, by your side as early in the process as possible. Contact us online or at (816) 875-9373.