Tiger Woods’ Crash Brings Up Liability Questions

Wednesday, April 14, 2021 by The Law Offices of J. Jeffrey Herman

Someone was notably missing from this year’s Masters Tournament. The biggest name in the world of golf, Tiger Woods was unable to play and may not be able to play in any other events for the foreseeable future. He sustained serious leg injuries in a car crash in the Rancho Palos Verdes section of Ventura County in February.

The accident only involved Woods’ SUV, and the data has confirmed he was speeding at the time of the crash but was he the only one responsible for the accident? Because of the increased number of accidents along this same stretch of road, liability is currently under debate by city officials and personal injury lawyers in Ventura County.

Who is really at fault?

The road where Woods crashed is a stretch of sloped and curvy road in between Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates. The Ventura County Times reported the road is “notorious” for being unsafe since the 1970s and accounting for 13 accidents over the last year.

The cities of Rolling Hills Estates and Rancho Palos Verdes have a shared jurisdiction of the area, leaving both cities responsible for increasing the safety on the dangerous road. Because of the road’s design, locals claim it invites speeding.

If a road is deemed unsafe, there are several measures a city can take, including:

• Conducting safety reviews
• Redesigning the roadway
• Adding a traffic signal
• Reducing the speed limit
• Increasing police patrols
• Adding speed bumps

Since Tiger Woods has not been officially cited for any traffic violations (speeding or reckless driving), could this be the beginning of these two cities’ officials finally taking responsibility for the street’s hazardous conditions?

Next measures to reduce the danger

Because of this celebrity crash, both cities have been put on notice to find solutions in making this road less treacherous. These solutions start with a safety review, a study of traffic volumes and speeds, including in-depth examinations of the previous collisions on this road. The study will be conducted by both Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates.

But if this accident did not involve a legendary sports figure, would we see any of these debates concerning roads with bad designs, poor maintenance, or failure to correct dangerous conditions. Seldom do police investigations indicate dangerous roads as a cause of accidents? To prove roadways contributed to a wreck, physical evidence (pictures, etc.) should be gathered at the accident site, then documented and preserved. An entire body of the law is related to these types of public entity cases that prove government liability and are very legally complicated.

Who is looking out for you?

Dangerous road conditions are just one of the many aspects of the risky and complex traffic in California. With the restrictions of the COVID pandemic lifting, Californian roads will see a surge of drivers getting back into the flow of everyday life. With increased traffic comes increased accidents. The good news is we are here to look after your best interests.

If you or someone you love has suffered injuries from a motor vehicle crash and you need a car accident attorney in Ventura, California, contact us at The Law Offices of J. Jeffrey Herman or call 805-983-2344 for a free consultation.