Road construction and maintenance are critical to our nation’s entire infrastructure. Without properly structured or maintained roadways, our daily commutes would be quite dangerous with additional risk and potential for automotive accidents. Road maintenance poses many challenges to drivers and construction workers alike. Site safety requires traffic to be diverted, lanes to be closed or narrowed, and signs to be placed for drivers to follow planned routes. Navigating these obstacles can be a difficult task for even the most seasoned driver, and construction workers who often must work near oncoming traffic must always be aware of the hazards associated with roadwork, as well as dangers from traffic.
Unfortunately, accidents in road construction areas are common. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, over 700 fatalities occurred in road construction work zones in both 2016 and 2017. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over 24,000 individuals lost their lives in work zone crashes from 1982-2014, peaking in 2002 with 1,186 fatalities. From 2003-2015, over 1,500 workers lost their lives at a road construction site with Texas and Florida being two of the most dangerous states in the U.S. for road workers.
How do these accidents happen? Why are accidents and fatalities a common occurrence in road construction sites?
There are several factors that can contribute to accidents occurring in a road construction areas. In certain instances, the causes of accidents in work zones can be at the fault of road workers and may include any of the following:
Of course, there are also many accidents not caused by maintenance crews. Automobile drivers may also be a contributing factor of road construction accidents. Examples of driver’s fault may include the following:
If you find yourself injured within a road construction site in the state of Florida, there are several things you can do to help protect your rights. Regardless of if you’re operating a motor vehicle, or a worker involved in a road construction accident the first thing you should do is assess your well-being. If you feel you may be injured, please seek medical attention as soon as possible. Following an accident, collect as much information as possible at the scene including the names of those involved in the accident, drivers license numbers, insurance information, make and model of the vehicles involved, and witness information. Documenting the scene of the accident with photos and information is also of importance. Additionally, make sure you file a police report with the local authorities. The information documented in this report will be used for future settlement negotiations or in court if a lawsuit occurs. Please also Keep in mind that Florida’s statute of limitations requires you to file a claim within 4 years after the accident.
If you’ve been injured in a road construction accident in Southwest Florida, we urge you to contact our office to speak with an attorney. At the Kagan Law Firm, we specialize in injury cases and welcome the opportunity to help you recover compensation for injuries and damages incurred as a result of your accident. For a free consultation, please contact our office directly at (239) 466-1161.
Additionally, you may also fill out the form below and an attorney will contact you once your inquiry is received.