A common road hazard that poses a safety threat is a pothole. Potholes are a normal part of the wearing process of a road. Sometimes a pothole may be small and insignificant, creating no more than an annoyance to most motorists. However, some potholes are large and pose danger to those in the area.
Potholes are most dangerous when a driver is traveling at a high rate of speed, like on a highway. High speed provides a driver with less time to notice the defect in the road. It also makes it harder for a driver to avoid a pothole. If a driver is speeding, the chances of hitting a pothole greatly increase.
Potholes can throw a car out of alignment or instantly cause a tire to go flat. Other times, a driver who strikes a pothole may lose control. They could swerve into traffic or off the road, causing an accident.
When this happens, the driver, any passengers in the vehicle, and anyone in any other vehicle involved may suffer injuries. Though most potholes develop naturally as wear and tear occurs on the road, it is the job of the city, state, or municipality to maintain the roads and it may be negligent to allow a large pot hole to remain unfixed on a road.