Just as warmer weather has made its way into
Maryland and the bitter cold winter temperatures retreat, drivers will have to
combat potholes
on the roads. The
prolonged extreme cold temperatures that froze the state during February
combined with excessive amounts of snow and ice are to blame for a bad pothole
season. Several water pipes have burst
throughout Baltimore City leading to potholes as well. The Maryland State Highway Administration
(SHA) is “bracing for the worst,” expecting to find many potholes on Maryland’s
roads.
The
SHA explained that potholes form “when water seeps into cracks in roads, then
freezes and expands, pushing pavement upward.”
Vehicles driving over expanding pavement chips away parts of the road
and when combined with plows running over them and the corrosive effects of
salt brine used on roadways, potholes appear.
In
the first 9 days of March, AAA received 2,800 tire-related calls for roadside
assistance, a significant increase from February. The increased number of potholes on Maryland
roads is likely to blame for the tire damage.
Officials are having a difficult time keeping up with repairing the potholes
because of the large number across the state.
The SHA has a goal “to respond to potholes within two days.” City residents can call 3-1-1 to report
potholes to officials. The City has
already repaired 25,000 potholes this year and thousands more will be filled in
the coming weeks.
Driving
over potholes can cause severe damage to your car, truck, or motorcycle. Alignments can be thrown off, tires can be
damaged, and rims can be bent. Sometimes,
structural damage to the vehicle can result.
Potholes are especially dangerous for motorcyclists because they can be
thrown off their bike and severely injured.
Accidents can also result if a driver is trying to avoid a pothole and
crashes into another vehicle. Another
possibility is that the pothole could cause a driver to lose control of their
vehicle and get into an accident.
Cities and counties are expected
to keep their roads safe. When they fail
to do that and their negligence leads to a car, truck, or motorcycle accident,
victims may have a legal claim to seek compensation for injuries, losses, and
damages. It is important that if you are
involved in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident that you hire an experienced
attorney who can uncover all liable parties and fight for full compensation.
If you or a family
member has been injured or killed in a Maryland automobile accident, truck, bus
or motorcycle accident, and would like a free legal consultation or if you
would like more information on car accidents please feel free to contact our
office at (301) 854-9000 or visit us on the web at: http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Motorcycle-Accidents.shtml
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