Ill designed roadway shoulders do not provide the safety they are supposed to.
Too narrow, steep, or even non-existent shoulders may cause serious accidents.
Those responsible for maintaining shoulders should take into account the cost and economic inefficiency caused by such defective designs, especially when a quick repair is all that is needed.
Shoulders often deteriorate over time due to rain, excessive use, expansion cracks caused by heat, and shrubbery growth.
Due to the slow and marginal worsening of conditions, counties and local authorities do not find shoulder repairs to be worth the cost until there is a reason to.
This is problematic as the risks continue to increase as the conditions worsen.
How can an Attorney help? Experienced attorneys have the sophistication and legal prowess to determine what really caused the accident.
Some of the factors that your attorney should consider almost instinctively are:

• Prior record of accidents on the road in question
• Design of shoulder
• Repair and maintenance frequency records
• Actual and expected measurements of the road
• Did the vehicle veer off course or were there other factors that could have caused the accident

A very common question that comes up in such cases is, "At what point does the roadway drop off become dangerous enough?" An experienced attorney will know how to develop the answer, having looked at prior court decisions and expert testimonies before.
Also, he will recommend immediate evidence gathering as those likely to be held responsible will try to minimize their liability with quick repairs.
If you or someone you know was recently injured in a road accident, it is in your best interest to look into every possible cause of the accident.
Do not assume anything, road drop offs have been and can be a cause in your accident.