Thursday, 31 December 2020 03:40 PM
Company Update
Especially the Issue in LA
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 31, 2020 / Los Angeles is not the friendliest city to walkers. And even for its car-friendly reputation, the maintenance of the city's roads and streets leave much to be desired. Below we will discuss some of the key issues surrounding the risk to drivers, walkers, and bicyclists.
This shouldn't come as any surprise to anyone who drives around LA or walks along its many sidewalks. The city is not exactly known as a pedestrian-friendly city. Furthermore, the city's layout and development are specially calibrated for car travel. The city's rapid growth during and after the Second World War meant that the city did not develop the same system of public transportation as one on the east coast. Furthermore, even if that was the case, the relative size of the city also makes it difficult to traverse on foot or even on public transport.
So when you add it all up, there is a serious cause for alarm. This would not be as much of an issue had the city or county kept up with their minimum responsibility to taxpayers. Unfortunately, years of neglect added up to a city that is remarkably difficult to traverse without risking injury. And it doesn't look like things are going to get any easier in the near future.
The fact that the city understood the lack of maintenance also makes the issue worse. In addition, it shows a certain level of liability for their errors. It also opens the door to lawsuits against the city, the county, or certain public agencies responsible for safe transport.
Potential Issues Caused by Potholes
The issues surrounding the lack of maintenance on LA's streets and sidewalks have larger connotations. A series of potholes are not just a nuisance in your car. The poor conditions can cause serious issues, as we will outline below. It places people and vehicles at risk of:
- Broken Axles. There are serious risks of a car hitting a pothole, breaking its axle, or seriously damaging its suspension. This can get even worse, depending on the condition of the car and the pothole itself. The more potholes, the worse.
- Injury to Bicyclists. This can be especially concerning, considering the relative exposure of those on bikes. Falling off of a bike can cause serious trauma, including broken bones, concussions, or collision with a motor vehicle.
- Injury to Motorcyclists. This is even more concerning due to speed and relative lack of collision protection.
- Injury to Pedestrians. This can include trip and fall injuries, or even worse. It can also place the walker closer to traffic, potentially causing a collision.
- Add all these up, and you can see the potential risk caused by the knowing lack of maintenance caused by such errors by the city, county, and other agencies.
Rating Low
Of course, the city allows residents to report the risk of potholes. But this is only a portion of their responsibility. Once the city is put on notice, there is a need to fix the potholes before they can cause further injury.
In fact, the city understood the problem was so bad that in 2019 it called for a repair ‘blitz.' It's obvious from anyone who has traveled in or around the city that this has not been the case just yet. The City Council approved $250,000 in funding for the project-- which is nowhere near enough to actually complete the work necessary.
As seen below, we are dealing with a severe seasonal issue made worse by years of neglect.
December through March are typically the worst months for potholes and receive the highest number of repair requests, according to Paul Gomez, a public relations representative for the Department of Public Works. Gomez says the city has not yet determined which neighborhoods will be targeted by the pothole truck drivers.
The true cost goes even deeper, especially considering both injury and damage to vehicles. In fact, it may be a part of a more serious risk of cities being on the chopping block for residents. Take a look at the profound cost-- just the amount reported:
Average L.A. drivers pay an extra $900 per year in wear and tear to their vehicles in the form of tires, brakes, and wheel alignments, according to the nonprofit transportation research group TRIP. And more than a few drivers take the bill right to City Hall, which paid some $33 million for the 2016-17 fiscal year in repair-related accident settlements.
The risk makes the chances of a vehicle or pedestrian collision higher. Furthermore, only a skilled and experienced law firm such as Los Angeles' Ehline Law can truly make a person whole again following such an accident.
Works Cited
Los Angeles County Public Works website: Question: Where can I report a pothole or potholes?
LAist: LA's Pothole Problems Are So Bad The City Council Says It's Time For A Repair 'Blitz'
LA Mag: Is There Any Hope for L.A.'s Terrible Streets and Sidewalks?
Ehline Law website: Pedestrian Accident Attorney in L.A.
The Hill: Is this the end of cities in America?
CONTACT:
Michael Ehline
[email protected]
SOURCE: Ehline Law Firm