OPINION ISSUED OCTOBER 1, 1992
KAREN BURDETTE AND CONNIE GIVEN
VS.
DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS
(CC-91-328)
Claimant represents self.
James D. Terry, Attorney at Law, for respondent.
PER CURIAM:
On October 16, 1991, Karen Burdette, a resident of Sissonville, Kanawha County, was driving a
1988 Ford Crown Victoria owned by her mother, Connie Given. As she traveled under the
northbound Interstate 77 Fairplane Interchange bridge on State Route 21 in Jackson County at 3:05
p.m., her automobile struck a broken four inch piece of concrete that she alleges fell from the
overhead bridge. Karen Burdette testified that she could not dodge the fallen concrete pieces as they
covered her entire lane of travel on Route 21. She further testified that upon seeing the broken
concrete in the road she slowed down to 30 miles an hour, but could not avoid the collision. Upon
impact with the broken concrete rock, the front driver's side tire ruptured. this claim was brought in
the amount of $106.00 to recover the cost of replacing the damaged tire. The Court on its own
motion amends the style of the claim to reflect the titled owner of the vehicle, Connie Given.
The State is neither an insurer nor a guarantor of the safety of motorists traveling on its highways.
Adkins v. Sims, 130 W.Va. 645, 46 S.E.2d 81 (1947). However, the respondent has a duty to use
reasonable care in its maintenance of the streets and bridges. This Court previously granted an award
in a claim wherein the claimant's vehicle was damaged by concrete which fell from a bridge owned
and maintained by the respondent. See Lynch v. Dept. of Highways, 13 Ct.Cl. 187 (1980). In the
instant claim, the Court is of the opinion that the respondent has not met its duty of care required in
the maintenance of the bridge over I-77. Respondent had constructive, if not actual, notice of the
deteriorated bridge deck. For this reason the Court has determined that respondent was negligent.
The Court is of the opinion to and does make an award in the amount of $106.00 to the claimant for
the damages to her automobile.
Award of $106.00.
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