When someone driving is involved in a car accident, it might not necessarily be their fault. Roads can often be dangerous, and local and state governments do not do enough to make those roads safe. While it does not necessarily absolve a driver who was acting recklessly, it does mean that another entity could also be held at fault.

This could be the case in a recent car accident in Dallas, after two women drove into Lake Ray Hubbard late last month. According to police, the two women drove down a boat ramp into the lake.

The driver, who was in her car at night with her cousin, said that she was lost. She recounted that she was on the phone with her father trying to figure out a new route until her cousin saw that they were approaching the water.

Fortunately the women were rescued by a Rockwell County sheriff's deputy. Neither women knew how to swim and they were trapped in the car, so his arrival was good timing.

The wreck happened on a Friday, and by Monday Dallas city workers were installing warning signs at the lake. The city is also considering installing barricades, speed bumps and reflective signs near the boat ramp. The city has said that any changes will be made soon to minimize the risk of further accidents.

While it appears that both women escaped serious injury, it may not have been the case if the sheriff's deputy had not arrived in time. If the women were injured and wanted to file suit, they could seek to hold the city accountable for the dangerous conditions around the lake.

Source: NBC DFW, "Dallas Installs Warning Signs Where Car Plunged Into Lake," Ellen Goldberg, Jan. 30, 2012