On behalf of Weisman, Kennedy & Berris Co., L.P.A. posted in wrongful death on Monday, April 8, 2013.

Ultimately, the state of Ohio determined that the woman’s death was a direct consequence of the state’s failure to repair its roads. As a result of the ruling, the woman’s family will receive more than $3 million. However, the department of transportation is still investigating the incident.

Following snowy Ohio winters, potholes can cause potentially hazardous driving conditions. Although drivers must always be cautious, the government is responsible for restoring their roads to ensure that they’re safe for drivers. When the government fails to fix potholes quickly, it puts drivers and pedestrians at risk for fatal accidents.

Five years ago, a truck hit a pothole before swerving into a 49-year-old nurse’s car, resulting in the woman’s death. If the city’s potholes had been repaired, the woman’s life would likely have been spared. Shortly after the accident, the department of transportation blamed the accident on the truck driver’s careless driving and said that there was no way to determine the exact condition of the road on the day of the accident. However, two or three weeks before the accident, the department received notice that the road was in disrepair. Several days later, a supervisor looked at the road and decided it was unnecessary to fix the road’s potholes right away.

Ultimately, the state of Ohio determined that the woman’s death was a direct consequence of the state’s failure to repair its roads. As a result of the ruling, the woman’s family will receive more than $3 million. However, the department of transportation is still investigating the incident.

The family said they hope that the department of transportation will take better care of the city’s roads in the future. The loss of a loved one is often devastating for families. People who have lost family members in a fatal accident may be entitled to compensation through a wrongful death claim.

Source: Plain Dealer, “Ohio must pay $3.3 million for fatal pothole accident, court rules,” Sabrina Eaton, April 5, 2013