No Immunity for Design Professional for Poor Highway Design
Source: https://www.irmi.com/, May 23, 2025
By: Kenneth Slavens
Review and approval by state and federal authorities of a highway design did not provide immunity to the design engineers from personal injury claims. See Ives v. HMB Pro. Eng’rs, 2024 WL 2487850, 2024 Ky. App. LEXIS 41 (Ct. App. May 24, 2024).
Facts of the Case
This personal injury lawsuit arose from a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 65 in Kentucky during heavy rainfall. The vehicle hydroplaned, resulting in the death of passenger Ives and severe injuries to driver Copley. Both were employees of the same architectural firm on a business trip.
The estate of Ives initially sued Copley and an insurer but later added several engineering firms that were responsible for the design of the section of Interstate 65 where the accident occurred. Copley also filed claims against the engineers, alleging negligent design related to roadway drainage. Read more.
