Bridge safety can be the responsibility of CalTrans, Federal departments, or a private owner. In a bridge collapse, the bridge designer and construction company could also be found liable for damages and injuries.
California freeways and boulevards utilize many bridges to carry thousands of motorists safely over a gap, another road, or a body of water each day. Bridges can be beautiful landmarks, but when they aren’t maintained properly and designed with safety in mind, drivers and pedestrians are put at serious risk.
Bridge Collapse Hazards in California
When a bridge gives way, it endangers dozens of lives at once. California commuters and families could be traveling along at full speed when the lanes suddenly fall out from under them. Motorists might be sent off a failing bridge.
Victims could suffer fractured bones when their cars are overturned in a pothole caused by bridge erosion. They may suffer injuries to internal organs or critical spine damage in a fall along some of the expansive bridges along the Pacific Coast Highway. Vehicles and pedestrians traveling below a failing bridge can be struck by debris or SUVs and trucks and suffer brain trauma.
Of course, these devastating events carry more than enough force to cause life-threatening harm. The families of lost loved ones may be left to wonder how they can receive justice and protect themselves when the guidance and financial support the deceased had always provided is taken away.
The fact is, there are many reasons a bridge or a road could collapse. There may be many parties found responsible for the damage and injuries those disasters cause. When you or a loved one are injured in a crash, you can turn to a skilled California Car Accident Lawyer to help you identify who is accountable and who should be providing recovery support.
California Bad Bridges Statistics
California bridges have been under a microscope for many years now. Safety for drivers around numerous routes has been called into question.
According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), California has more bridges in bad shape than any other state.
Their 2021 report found that 477 of our state’s bridges were determined to be in “poor” shape and in need of urgent repair or replacement. Only Illinois with 397 bad bridges and New York with 352 failing bridges came close to approaching the magnitude of California’s bridge issues.
From the FHWA data, American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) determined that of California’s 25,810 bridges, around 6% were in poor or worse condition. 182 of the so-called bad bridges are along freeways, and interstates, like I-5.
What Causes California Bridge Collapses?
Storms and flooding have damaged California bridges in the past, and recently, they’ve put people in harm’s way. Historic flooding in the Spring of 2023 took out many bridges in California, including a bridge on Interstate 10 near the Arizona border as reported by KESQ-TV. Some of the California bridges that suffered damage are still being repaired.
A strike from a large truck is also enough to weaken bridge supports and threaten travelers. Some auto accidents also involve fires that can reach temperatures that can melt metal. This was the case when a gasoline tanker truck overturned and exploded on Interstate 80/880 in Oakland in 2007. According to the New York Times, the flames brought down part of I-580 that passed overhead.
Earthquakes threaten every aspect of California living, but they are especially hazardous for people who happen to be caught on bridges when the Earth begins to shake. In December of 2022, a bridge in Northern California suffered a dangerous crack during a 6.2 magnitude quake.
One of the most devastating earthquakes in California history brought down numerous bridges in the Oakland area over 3 decades ago. The Loma Prieta earthquake collapsed the upper decks on the Bay Bridge and the Cypress Freeway, tragically claiming 42 lives.
Powerful forces in nature are always a threat to a bridge, but it’s often negligence in maintenance and inspection that proves to be the biggest cause of bridge disasters. The failure of a single section or part of a bridge can bring an entire structure down. Structural integrity might be degrading over several years, but go unnoticed by those in charge of keeping bridges safe.
Who Can Be Held Accountable for My Injuries After a Bridge Collapse?
Bridges may topple due to natural disasters, but that doesn’t mean there’s no one at fault. Bridges are designed to withstand certain stress levels, but sometimes a design flaw or a problem during construction is left uncorrected and leaves victims at more risk than is necessary.
Sometimes it’s just normal wear and tear, and aging that goes unchecked, that can cause a bridge catastrophe. Flooding and construction negligence might be traced back to a construction company or a government department.
These and other parties can be held fully responsible for damages and injuries victims endure due to a bridge failure:
- Caltrans – California’s DOT is responsible for inspecting and upgrading bridges on state-maintained roads. When bridges are in jeopardy of failing, they should be closed until repairs can be made. When someone gets hurt due to a bridge collapse, Caltrans could be liable.
- S. Department of Transportation – The U.S. DOT partners with California authorities in the upkeep of bridges along interstates and freeways. They can also be responsible for roads and bridges leading into airports and around ports and trucking terminals.
- Bridge Designers, Architects, and Engineers – The design for a new bridge or a bridge upgrade can take a long time, and safety is supposed to be the number one goal. When it’s determined that a design flaw left a bridge vulnerable to collapse, a design team or an architectural firm could be responsible for helping victims recover.
- Construction Companies and Contractors – The road construction company responsible for bringing the design to life when constructing the bridge could be fully responsible for a disaster. Contractors and subcontractors used by the construction company could use unsuitable materials or install a joint or girder improperly. A California personal injury lawyer would investigate these possibilities and others to hold a construction firm accountable.
- Inspection Agencies and Companies Performing Inspections – If these entities miss an important inspection or miss spotting a problem spot on a bridge they might share in the liability of a bridge collapse.
The statute of limitations on bridge failure liability may protect some parties from having to take responsibility when an older structure collapses. However, your California Bridge Collapse Lawyer can look for other guilty parties and make sure you receive the support you need to repair your car and pay for recovery.
Will Car Insurance Help Me After Bridge Collapse Caused by a Natural Disaster?
The many parties listed above and others may be held liable for your injury treatment costs. And in certain situations, your auto insurance can be counted on for help in paying for car repairs or replacement.
The bare minimum car insurance policy as required by the state of California likely won’t provide much help in a bridge collapse accident caused by mother nature. However, consumers who pay extra for “full coverage” insurance could count on help after a bridge accident.
Full coverage usually includes comprehensive and collision protection. The comprehensive portion of the policy provides money to fix a car, no matter who was at fault. Policies will pay out support for accidents involving floods, fires, and earthquakes.
As far as finding help with paying medical bills after a bridge collapse injury, another add-on, Med-Pay may assist victims. This is coverage that kicks in to pay hospital bills when someone is injured, regardless if another driver was at fault or if an “act of god” is to blame. Med-Pay may also provide support to families who lose a loved one in a fatal bridge disaster.
What Kind of Things Can Earn Compensation in a California Bridge Collapse?
Your California Car Accident Lawyer would fully investigate your bridge accident and compile a list of every party that may be held accountable for your recovery costs.
An insurance claim or a lawsuit would be sent to any party that was negligent in the bridge collapse. That claim would include documentation of every hardship victims and their families endured, asking for full compensation for the damages.
These and other factors should all factor into the amount on a settlement check:
- Totals on medical bills and physical therapy expenses.
- Estimated costs for a lifetime of care and support for a permanent physical disability.
- Wrongful death benefits. Families should earn support after losing a loved one in a tragic bridge collapse. The support can cover the cost of burial and any remaining ambulance and hospital bills. Families should also earn support to cover the loss of the income the deceased would have contributed in the years to come.
- Compensation for the physical pain endured in recovery and perhaps bouts of chronic pain in the future.
- Emotional trauma. Depression and anxiety can affect victims who may suffer a loss of enjoyment of life in recovery. Crash victims can also suffer PTSD symptoms stemming from experiencing such a disaster.
- Past and future lost earnings and benefits while victims are forced to miss work hours.
- Car repair or replacement costs.
Contact a California Bridge Collapse Lawyer
Earning support after a bridge collapse accident can be complex and frustrating. There could be several parties that will each have to be called upon separately to provide fair support to victims. Each company or government department could be represented by a powerful team of lawyers. If you or a loved one were the victims of a bridge disaster due to someone’s negligence, you’ll want to have your own skilled legal representation.
Maison Law of California provides a free consultation to all bridge collapse victims and their families. There’s no obligation to us as we talk over your options for finding support. Contact us today to set up a no-risk meeting with a real lawyer by phone or in person.
If you do feel we can help you hold those responsible accountable for what happened, you won’t need any money to hire us. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement money you are awarded.
