In a “simple” case of a road that causes crashes? Probably. Theoretically, they can held liable, but this is a pretty “small” issue to bring a suit.
In this sense the term “engineer” is someone that requires a license and training (like MDs or lawyers). States require engineers to “stamp” designs that they are taking responsibility for. Sometimes “city planners” LARP as (unlicensed) civil engineers and make designs that get built, which is somewhat problematic but happens.
Stamping and signing off on a design means legally accepting liability. How often they get prosecuted is rare. One famous example is Boston’s Big Dig fatal tunnel collapse. Of course politics and money had a big role in that case.
In this sense the term “engineer” is someone that requires a license and training (like MDs or lawyers). States require engineers to “stamp” designs that they are taking responsibility for. Sometimes “city planners” LARP as (unlicensed) civil engineers and make designs that get built, which is somewhat problematic but happens.
Stamping and signing off on a design means legally accepting liability. How often they get prosecuted is rare. One famous example is Boston’s Big Dig fatal tunnel collapse. Of course politics and money had a big role in that case.