San Diego

Dangerous Roadway Conditions

Attorney

Driving in and around San Diego, you shouldn’t have to worry that the road itself is unsafe. But dangerous roadway conditions—defective design, missing guardrails, poor sight lines, obscured signage, unsafe construction zones, or unprotected crosswalks—can turn an ordinary drive into a life-changing crash. Hulburt Law Firm represents drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians who were seriously injured or lost a loved one because a roadway, intersection, or crosswalk was not reasonably safe.

Types of dangerous roadway cases we handle:

  • Dangerous intersections and crosswalks
  • Highway and freeway design or maintenance defects
  • Roadway departure and edge-drop-off crashes
  • Obstructed visibility and overgrown vegetation
  • Inadequate signage and traffic control
  • Unsafe construction and work zones
  • Mixed responsibility: dangerous road and negligent driver

Our Approach

Throughout your dangerous roadway case, we keep you informed, answer your questions, and explain each step in clear terms. Because we limit the number of catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases we accept, we’re able to dig deeply into road-design and maintenance issues—reviewing police reports, collision histories, public-records responses, design plans, as-built drawings, maintenance and trimming logs, traffic studies, and sight-line or visibility analyses.

These cases often involve claims against cities, counties, or state agencies such as Caltrans, and they raise complex issues like dangerous condition of public property, design immunity, and strict government-claim deadlines. We work with traffic engineers, human-factors experts, and accident reconstructionists to show how the roadway contributed to the crash and how reasonable changes—or warnings—could have prevented it.

If you or a loved one has been injured because of a dangerous roadway in or around San Diego County, we invite you to contact us for a free case review.

Navigate the Law

Understand and manage the complexities of your case with an expert legal team on your side.

Gather Crucial Evidence

Our legal team collects crucial evidence to present a compelling case.

Negotiate Settlements

We handle negotiations with insurance companies and opposing parties in order to achieve the highest settlements possible.

Representation in Court

Our experienced attorneys provide skilled representation if your case goes to trial.

Case Results

Our attorneys have a proven track record of achieving extraordinary results.

$28,163,528
Dangerous Roadway

Jury verdict against Caltrans for a 13-year-old boy who was hit by a car while using a dangerous crosswalk.

$25,360,000
Automotive Defect

A sudden tire failure caused an SUV to fishtail and crash into a tree on the side of a San Diego County highway, killing a beloved husband and father.

$16,550,000
Construction Accident

A massive, improperly installed gate collapsed on a sub-contracted worker who was asked by the general contractor to paint it, causing his tragic death.

$7,225,000
Construction Accident

A concrete block wall wasn't properly supported and fell on a construction worker in El Cajon, killing him.

$7,000,000
Wrongful Death

An event producer’s negligence led to a participant’s death in a vehicle collision.

$6,075,000
Aviation Wrongful Death

A defective airplane engine ignition component caused a deadly crash in San Diego.

Real client stories
Landmark Dangerous Crosswalk Verdict Against Caltrans

The Harm

A high-speed, multi-lane crosswalk on a busy highway was left uncontrolled—no traffic lights, no stop signs—despite being part of a school route for children walking to a nearby middle school. One afternoon, while using that crosswalk, a 13-year-old boy was struck by a car and catastrophically injured.

Caltrans claimed the crosswalk was safe because there were no prior reported collisions. It blamed the driver for the crash and argued that various government immunities shielded it from responsibility.

The Truth

Attorney Conor Hulburt obtained an internal Caltrans policy document directing the agency to upgrade high-speed crosswalks that met the same criteria as the crosswalk where this boy was hit. Despite its own written policy, Caltrans had never made the required safety improvements.

At trial, Conor presented evidence and expert testimony showing that the crosswalk was unreasonably dangerous, that Caltrans knew it was dangerous, and that simple safety measures—such as better signals, markings, or traffic controls—could have prevented the accident.

Justice

The jury returned a $28.1 million verdict in favor of the boy and against Caltrans. Beyond compensating him for his lifelong needs, the verdict sent a clear message about the importance of following safety policies and protecting children on their way to and from school. Conor hopes this result will help motivate Caltrans to make similar crossings safer throughout California.

If you believe a dangerous roadway or crosswalk played a role in a serious crash involving you or a loved one, you don’t have to sort it out alone. Request a free dangerous roadway case review to talk with a San Diego attorney about what happened and your options.

How It Works

01

Free Case Review

During your free case review, we talk through where the crash happened, how it occurred, and what injuries you’re dealing with. We’ll ask questions about the roadway, intersection, or crosswalk itself—visibility, signage, lighting, lane layout, prior near-misses—and review any information you already have, such as police reports, photos, medical records, or insurance letters. We then give an honest assessment of whether a dangerous roadway or public-entity claim may be available under California law.

02

Scene Evaluation

If you decide to work with us and the scope of representation is signed, we begin a focused investigation into both the crash and the roadway. That can include visiting and photographing the scene, documenting sight lines and lighting, measuring lanes and shoulders, and identifying anything that may have contributed (missing signs, obstructed views, confusing markings, guardrail gaps, edge drop-offs, or construction zone issues). We also obtain police reports and interview witnesses and first responders.

03

Public Records

Next, we obtain public records from the agencies responsible for the roadway—such as design plans, “as-built” drawings, traffic studies, speed surveys, maintenance and trimming logs, and prior collision data. We work with traffic and highway-safety engineers, human-factors experts, accident reconstructionists, and medical specialists to analyze how the roadway was designed and maintained, how the crash unfolded, and what reasonable engineering or maintenance measures could have reduced the risk.

04

Liability & Legal Strategy

Using the facts and expert analysis, we evaluate whether the roadway meets California’s definition of a “dangerous condition of public property,” who is responsible for it, and how to navigate public-entity defenses like design immunity. We identify all potentially liable parties—such as cities, counties, state agencies, contractors, and any negligent drivers involved—and determine what claims and notices must be filed, including any required government claim under the Government Claims Act.

05

Damages & Negotiation

We work with you and your medical providers to understand the full impact of the crash—your injuries, treatment, future medical needs, time away from work, and changes to your daily life and family responsibilities. We organize this information into a clear presentation that combines liability evidence (engineering, design, maintenance, and crash history) with your damages. We then handle communications and negotiations with the public entity, contractors, and insurers involved.

06

Trial Representation

If a fair resolution cannot be reached through negotiation, we are prepared to file a lawsuit and, if necessary, take your case to trial. Litigation in dangerous roadway cases can involve written discovery, depositions of public-entity representatives, engineers, contractors, and experts, motion practice over immunities and defenses, and detailed pre-trial preparation. At trial, we work to tell your story—using photos, diagrams, design plans, maintenance records, crash data, and expert testimony—to show how the roadway was unsafe, how that condition contributed to the crash, and what the incident has meant for you and your family.

07
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California Dangerous Roadway Law: Public Entity Liability & Deadlines

California dangerous roadway cases often involve claims that a public entity created or allowed a “dangerous condition of public property” and failed to fix it or warn about it in time. These claims are governed by the Government Claims Act and related statutes and have stricter rules and deadlines than many other personal injury cases.

What Is a “Dangerous Condition of Public Property” in California?

What Do You Have to Prove in a Dangerous Roadway Case?

What Is Design Immunity, and How Does It Affect These Cases?

Can a Dangerous Roadway Case Involve Both a Public Entity and a Negligent Driver?

What Compensation Is Available in Dangerous Roadway Cases?

What Deadlines Apply to Dangerous Roadway Claims in California?

The Hulburt Law Difference

In-Depth Investigations

Forget surface-level research and mediocre inquiries. We dive deep to conduct extensive investigations and gather evidence in order to build your strongest case.

Tech-Forward Approach

We use technology to your advantage. By using video and photography, scene recreations, and graphics, we tell your story in a visually-compelling way that other law firms cannot match.

Maximum Compensation

Defense attorneys and insurance companies know us and respect us. We assess the full extent of your damages and pursue all responsible parties in order to maximize the compensation you deserve.

The Right Experience

Catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases are rarely simple. We have taken on the largest corporations, insurance companies, and defense firms in the country and won.

Genuine Care

We understand how important it is to have a compassionate and considerate lawyer. From providing regular case updates to ensuring clients are adequately prepared for each step of the case, we continually demonstrate our care for all of our clients.

If I ever had a family member injured and needed legal assistance, I would call Conor.
Past Client
Conor is definitely the kind of attorney you want on your side: smart, focused, and relentless.
Patrick C.
I would highly recommend Conor for his outstanding service and attention to detail.
Trevor J.
Needing an attorney is daunting and stressful. Make it easier on yourself. Give Conor a call.
John D.
Conor is a thorough, thoughtful, and tenacious litigator who does everything he can to help his clients.
Opposing Counsel
His skill and talent in presenting cases at mediation and working them up has resulted in some of the largest settlement results this year. I can’t think of a better young attorney in San Diego right now than Conor Hulburt.
Local Mediator
Absolutely wonderful, patient and really puts effort into your case. Conor went out of his way to make sure we were taken care of.
Jasmine C.
I was very happy working with Conor and would recommend him to anyone. With him, you're in good hands.
Liz F.
Compassionate, trustworthy, and fights for justice — Conor is the real deal.
J. Quiroz
The Hulburt Law Firm represented my family after a tragic fatal roadway incident. Their firm was compassionate and sensitive. We would highly recommend them.
Dianne T.
Finding Conor was truly a blessing. We are so grateful for his compassion, dedication, and support throughout the entire process.
Deisy Q.

Dangerous Roadway Conditions

FAQs

What are the government’s immunity defenses in a dangerous condition of public property lawsuit?

What is a “dangerous roadway condition” in California?

How do I know if a dangerous road or crosswalk contributed to my crash?

Can I sue a city, county, or the State of California for a dangerous roadway?

What should I do if I think a dangerous roadway caused or worsened my crash?

What are common examples of dangerous roadway conditions?

How long does a dangerous roadway case usually take?

Do I need an attorney for a dangerous roadway case, and how are fees handled?

Request a Free Case Review

Simply fill out the form or call 619.821.0500 to receive a free case review. We’ll evaluate what happened, your injuries, and potential defendants to determine how we can best help you.

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