Road Design Defense

Baker Sterchi’s Road Design Defense team protects government entities in the planning, construction, and maintenance of roadway infrastructure. We offer comprehensive legal representation in complex litigation arising from allegations of defective road design, construction, and maintenance. We provide robust defense strategies for complex claims arising from alleged road design issues and involving catastrophic injuries.

We represent municipalities in both state and federal courts. Our team is well-versed in the intricacies of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), AASHTO guidelines, and state-specific design standards. Our practice focuses on defending against a wide range of road design-related claims, including inadequate sight distance, insufficient guardrail placement, improper pole placement, improper drainage design, inadequate signage or pavement markings, insufficient lighting, defective traffic control devices, and roadside hazards.

Our team combines extensive knowledge of engineering principles, traffic safety standards, and government immunity doctrines to mount robust defenses against claims of negligent design or maintenance. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, we work closely with accident reconstruction experts, traffic engineers, and human factors specialists to analyze complex crash scenarios and develop persuasive, comprehensive, and effective defense strategies.

We offer a full spectrum of legal services tailored to the unique challenges of road design claims including, early case assessment, expert witness coordination, and leveraging our deep understanding of governmental immunities and roadway ownership to protect entities from liability. We intimately understand the budgetary constraints of public entities, and strive to provide efficient, value-driven legal services.

Beyond our litigation and trial practice, we advise clients on risk management strategies, assist with safety audits, and provide guidance on emerging issues. Our Road Design Defense group leverages the firm's broader experience in government liability and construction law to offer comprehensive counsel in this niche practice area.