Spring has sprung, but winter has taken its toll. While it may seem like less snow and ice would make driving safer, winter often leaves the roads in bad shape.
As the snow and ice continue to melt, you’ll likely begin to notice large cracks and potholes in the roads.
Emerging in the spring
During the winter, freezing temperatures can cause cracks in the roads. As the temperatures warm, the snow and ice that has formed in these cracks may expand, breaking up the pavement even further.
With more cycles of cold and warm weather, the roads will become increasingly worse. When there is a lot of breakage in a certain spot, a pothole can result.
The damage they cause
Potholes and cracks in the roads are huge hazards for drivers. When a car hits a pothole at high-speed, the rim of the tire on the vehicle may be dented. This will cause a slow air leak that inevitably leads to a flat tire.
Motorcyclists that hit cracks or potholes in the road could lose their lives. The size of the small vehicle makes it easy to flip forward if the front tire goes down into a pothole at high-speed. Riders may also fall if they lose their balance after hitting rough road conditions.
However, swerving out of the way of a pothole can also be dangerous for drivers and bikers because they could hit someone else.
What to do if you hit one
You have the right to report potholes to your city to get them repaired. If a pothole that was reported isn’t fixed within a reasonable amount of time, the city could be liable for any injuries or damage it causes.
If you are involved in an accident because of a pothole or poor road conditions, a legal professional may be able to help you look into reports made to the city about road damage to make sure fault for the incident is attributed appropriately.