Did you engage in an accident because of a pothole on a New Jersey roadway? Did you know that you are entitled to file a claim for your accident by following a few simple steps? The fact is, the government provides cities and states with millions of dollars for them to maintain the nation’s highways, roads, and bridges as the number of vehicles on the roadways increase which contributes to them becoming worn. According to pothole.info, “it is estimated that $185 billion per year is invested for this maintenance to be conducted, however, today, the “nation annually invests about $68 billion.”
While potholes may appear to be more of a nuisance than anything, they actually pose as a great danger to anyone using the roadways in the city of Paterson, NJ. Pothole.info also points out some important statistics that helps us realize why this is true. For instance, “of approximately 33,000 traffic fatalities each year, one-third involve poor road conditions.” Although every crack and hole found in our streets and sidewalks cannot be fixed right away, it doesn’t mean the city or state should be left off the hook for neglecting to maintain our roadways.
If a pothole was the direct cause of your accident, our accident lawyers in Paterson, NJ can help you get a claim filed in order to recoup the funds necessary to cover your vehicle repairs and the medical bills that have accrued in the event you sustained an injury.
Other Important Facts Regarding Potholes
Were you aware that “27 percent of major urban roads are deemed substandard and provide unacceptably rough rides for motorists?” And according to the source, only 32% of our roads are deemed to be in good condition. That statistic alone highlights how poorly maintained our roadways are and why it is common for vehicles to engage in accidents that are brought on because of it.
Potholes also pose as a danger to bicyclists and increase their chances of engaging in an accident as well. “The grave danger that potholes present to bicyclists can also be costly to municipalities that fail to fix hazardous potholes and face multi-million dollar lawsuits as a result.”
How do I file a pothole damage claim in the city of Paterson, NJ?
Because of the damages and even injuries a pothole accident can bring on, you should be aware of what you can do to hold the city accountable for failing to maintain their roadways. An accident attorney in Paterson, NJ can be rather helpful in this situation but for your convenience a breakdown of what you need to do is provided below.
The first thing you will need to determine is whether the pothole accident occurred on a local, county, State highway, on a toll road. If it occurred on a local or county road, you can contact Passaic County directly and find out what their process is for you to collect the compensation that is due to you. The phone number for Passaic County is 973-881-4000 and their email contact information is [email protected].
Now, if your accident occurred on a State-owned highway, you can proceed on and fill out the Property Damage Claim-Short Form and you can access a copy by clicking here. The form should be mailed in within 90 days from the date of the accident and it can be submitted via certified mail. You can mail your claim form to the following address:
New Jersey Department of Treasury Division of Risk Management
P.O. Box 620 Trenton, New Jersey 08625
Attn: Tort & Contract Unit
It could take anywhere from three to six months to get your claim resolved and our Paterson accident lawyers would be more than happy to explain your rights as an accident victim.
