Injury Caused by Roadway Plate

Improperly installed or maintained steel roadway plates can result in serious injury to pedestrians or even motorists.

In New York City, especially, there is a constant flow of work being performed that requires the opening of roadways and hence the use of roadway plate.

These steel plates serve an important function in construction. They allow roadways to remain open during periods when construction is not taking place.

However, the dangers associated with steel roadway plates are well known by the construction industry.

These plates can be very slippery when wet. Either non-slip plates should be used or a non-slip coating should be applied to the plates.

A steel roadway plate must also be firmly in contact with the pavement below to avoid rocking and movement of the plate.

The placement of a one inch think plate creates a dangerous tripping condition. As such, the plate must be tapered around the edges to cure this hazardous condition. The tapering is usually done with asphalt. The asphalt also helps secure the roadway plate.

Despite the awareness of these dangers, there are too many times when the appropriate action is not taken by the entity performing the work. These failure raise the risk of injury to pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.

If you have been injured due to a defective roadway plate, it is important to speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights and assert your claim.