PRACTICAL GUIDELINES FOR MINIMIZING TORT LIABILITY

Transportation agencies are subject to increasing numbers of tort suits brought against them for improper performance and alleged deficiencies. The objectives of this synthesis are to familiarize organizations and their employees with this changing situation, make them aware of their duties and responsibilities to the traveling public, and recommend steps that can be taken to mitigate tort liability. Specific recommendations are set forth to minimize tort liability under each of a typical agency's functional areas--managing, planning, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining facilities. The proposed actions are directed primarily toward public agencies having responsibilities for highway systems. Much of the information presented, however, should also be of interest and value to other groups and functions. The same principles are applicable to all facets of a department of transportation. Much of the material is also pertinent to quasi-public agencies, such as toll highway authorities, and to private companies, such as highway contractors. (Author)

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_syn_106.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/05475570
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Lewis, R M
• Publication Date: 1983-12

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 40 p.
• Serial:
  • NCHRP Synthesis of Highway Practice
  • Issue Number: 106
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0547-5570

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Guidelines; Liability; Minimization; State departments of transportation; Tort liability
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Design; Highways; Law; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00386441
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-037 367
• Files: HSL, TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jun 28 1985 12:00AM