Reflective Glass Beads Cause Serious Bike Accidents
In road striping operations reflective glass beads are dropped onto the surface of wet paint. Reflective glass beads have played a large factor in increasing road safety thanks to the bead's reflective characteristics at night. However, glass beads are a serious danger to bike riders when an excessive amount of beads are dumped on the road or into intersections and not cleaned up.
Our firm worked on two personal injury matters involving glass beads that caused experienced bike riders to crash. One of our clients suffered a broken clavicle which was surgically repaired with a plate and screws and incurred over $25,000.00 in medical expenses. Both riders have extensive experience as former racers and athletes.
According to the Defendant's answers to discovery, glass beads are dropped onto wet paint stripes. The glass beads do not always stick to the paint surface, and they are simply left on the road.
Inspection of the paint striping machinery showed that there are separate toggle switches for the glass beads and the paint. The glass beads can pour out of the truck if the wrong switch or switch combinations are used.
How Can The Glass Bead Problem Be Prevented?
Clean up would be easy with a leaf blower, and it would prevent bike accidents. When asked if they would add a simple clean up step to their operation, the Defendant responded that unless all companies were required to clean up, it would make them less competitive. However, it does not seem that difficult to have an employee blow excessive beads off the road as the traffic cones are removed.
If you encounter glass beads on the road, it is important that you notify the paint striping company. The identity of the company that dumped the beads can be determined by calling the public works department in charge of the road where the beads are located. Public works can determine which road striping company had the striping contract at that location. Let your public works department know about the problem so that they can incorporate clean up into all future contracts with paint striping companies.
At our personal injury law firm, we take pride in the fact that we have notified governmental agencies of this problem and have asked them to include clean up of glass beads in all road striping contracts.
Copyright © 2007 Lawcolorado.net. All rights reserved |