Parma, Ohio, Settles $200,000 with Motorist Injured by Potholes

Parma, Ohio, has settled with Jeffrey Porter for $200,000 after he was seriously injured due to poorly maintained roads. This case shows the dangers of neglected infrastructure and the legal liabilities cities face when they don’t fix hazardous road conditions.

Incident Summary

Jeffrey Porter was riding his motorcycle on Jeannie Drive when he hit a pothole and had a bad accident. He broke multiple bones in his leg, tore his meniscus in his right knee, and had a cyst in his jawbone. He required extensive medical treatment and faced financial hardship.

City’s Delay in Fixing Road Hazards

Parma’s Service Department had been warning city officials from January 2019 to May 2022 about the condition of Jeannie Drive. Despite those warnings, repaving was delayed because of planned sewer work that needed funding. City officials said repairing the road before the sewer work would have been a waste of money because it would have had to be torn up again.

Settlement Details

The city will pay $50,000, and the former insurance company will pay $150,000. Although cities have governmental immunity in these cases, Parma’s knowledge of the road’s condition for so long and its inaction made the city liable. Officials acknowledged their duty to protect the residents and said public safety has to be the priority.

Impact on Residents and Infrastructure Plans

Porter’s case has residents of Parma concerned, who have been complaining about pothole-filled streets for years. Many have reported damage to their vehicles and safety risks due to the road conditions.

The city has announced plans to repave and repair 40 roads with a budget of $5-7 million. Streets like Sierra Oval and Dogwood Lane, which have been in poor condition for year,s are on the list to be repaired. While city officials say improvements are coming, some residents are skeptical given past delays.

Conclusion

The $200,000 settlement is a wake-up call for the dangers of not maintaining public roads. This case shows the importance of timely infrastructure repairs to prevent accidents and lawsuits. As Parma moves forward with its road repair projects, residents will be watching to see if the long-overdue work finally gets done.