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Curvy Roads Can Lead to Catastrophe

View of a Curved Highway Interchange

Curvy roads are a common factor in serious and fatal car accidents in Las Vegas. Curves cause unexpected shifts in the weight and velocity of the car, which can result in the driver losing control. Curvy road conditions also change with the weather. These types of roads are more dangerous during and after a rainstorm.

View of a Curved Highway Interchange

Physics and Curves

When a car is driving through a curve in the road, centrifugal force pulls it towards the edge of the curve. Centrifugal force is a rotational pull – objects that are in the rotation are pulled to the outside or edge of the rotation. The strong outward pull reduces the tires’ grip on the road. This can cause the car to skid into another lane of traffic or off the side of the road. The outward pull increases the faster the car is going and the tighter the curve.

Safely Negotiating Curves

Navigating a curve safely depends on understanding the different types of curves. Many curvy roads share one or more of these common features.

Increasing radius curves: these curves get tighter, requiring drivers to adjust their speed and lane position within the curve.

Decreasing radius curves: these curves get less sharp, requiring lane and speed adjustment.

Constant radius curves: these curves remain constant throughout, similar to highway merges, and are easier to navigate.

Downhill curves: drivers need to decrease speed while negotiating these curves because the car will naturally gain speed as it moves downhill.

Uphill curves: drivers need to increase speed while going through these curves because the car will lose acceleration as it goes uphill.

Blind curves: drivers cannot see the end of these curves and should proceed with caution.

“S” curves: these curves have two or more sharp turns in them going in opposite directions. These curves are common going up and down mountains.

Banked curves: the road is higher on one edge over the other, affecting the centrifugal force exerted on the vehicle.

When approaching a curve, drivers should decrease speed smoothly and constantly. As the driver approaches the center of the curve, she should start releasing the brake. Once the driver is in the center of the curve and can see the other road, she should start gently applying the accelerator to improve road grip as the car exits the curve.

The George Bochanis Injury Law Offices was established in 1985. Before opening his office, Mr. Bochanis spent years representing major insurance companies in litigation cases and prior to that was a law clerk to a prominent local district court judge. Our offices have grown from a small one person setting to having its own well known office location on South Ninth Street in Downtown Las Vegas with 15 employees.

Years of Experience: More than 28 years
Nevada Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: Nevada State Bar Federal Court of Nevada, 3rd Circuit

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Since opening our doors in 1985, the accident lawyers at the George Bochanis Injury Law Offices have been committed to helping injury victims get full compensation after slip and fall accidents, motor vehicle crashes, workplace injuries, and other personal injuries.

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