Keeping You and Your Agency Out of Court - Online Workshop

March 30 & 31, 2022

(9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time)

PDHs AVAILABLE

6 Professional Development Hours can be granted for this course. No partial credit available. Attendees must attend at least 90% of the webinar to get 6 PDH's.

Register ONLINE here.

WHAT THIS IS ABOUT

This road safety workshop provides an overview of the legal duties and responsibilities of roadway personnel. The overall goal of the class is to use the lessons learned from tort claims filed against road agencies to develop countermeasures to enhance traffic safety and reduce crashes. Key legal concepts relating to the liability of roadway agencies and their employees are reviewed from a risk management standpoint. Common types of claims/lawsuits brought against street departments and roadway agencies are identified through examples/case studies. Examples include traffic control devices, temporary traffic control, roadway/shoulder surface condition, drainage, vegetation management and pedestrian incidents. Risk management principles, aimed at: (1) reducing/preventing crashes and claims and (2) helping agencies defend claims, are highlighted. Practical risk management strategies and activities (for both individuals and organizations) are identified.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

This workshop should be of interest to state and local roadway agency employees who deal with design, construction, traffic operations, and maintenance.

INSTRUCTOR

Ronald W. Eck P.E.

The instructor for this workshop is Ronald W. Eck, P.E.. Ron received his B.S.C.E and Ph.D. degrees from Clemson University. He is Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering at West Virginia University and Director of the West Virginia Local Technical Assistance Program (WV LTAP). He has been involved in traffic engineering, including accessibility and pedestrian transportation, for over 45 years. He was a member of the Pedestrian Committee of the Transportation Research Board from 2008 to 2017. He authored the chapter on Pedestrians in McGraw-Hill&s Handbook of Transportation Engineering. He teaches a variety of ADA-related classes for public works personnel throughout the United States.

TENNESSEE ACADEMY FOR TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING (TATE)

The Tennessee Academy for Transportation Engineering (TATE) is an educational Program providing continuing education for engineers, planners, designers and technicians. The program focuses on the basic design of transportation facilities, the evaluation of traffic operations, and the collection of data to support various transportation studies. Successful completion of the required curricula of core and elective courses, confers TATE certification. For more information, contact Airton Kohls at 865-974-5255.

AGENDA

Session 1-Tort Liability

• What Is a Tort and How Does it Relate to Road Safety?
• Duties of Road Agencies and Related Concepts
• Elements of a Tort Claim
• Defenses to Tort Liability
• The Tort Claims Process
• Discovery (including tips for giving depositions)
• Agency and Employee Liability
• Examples of Common Tort Claims

Session 2-Risk Management Strategies and Lessons Learned from Actual Claims

• Principles of Risk Management
• Strategies/Activities to Reduce the Risk of Liability
• Case Studies: Lessons Learned from Actual Tort Claims

REGISTRATION

This is a free workshop for all city or county employees. Pre-registration is required. The registration fee for other attendees is $120 per person. TDOT employees must register through their local TDOT Training Office at least 10 working days in advance. Please note your employment status on the registration form. A course may be canceled if there is low enrollment. Forty-eight hours notice will be given to registrants if a course is canceled. Register early! Limited enrollment!

Register ONLINE here.