Construction Zone Accident Lawyer
As you drive through Fort Lauderdale or Florida in general, you’re likely to come across yellow signs that say ‘Road Construction Ahead’. Immediately, the body is filled with dread because construction on the roads leads to delays, backups, and all sorts of other issues; whether you’re driving to/from work or taking any other trip, it isn't an ideal sign to see. Unfortunately, construction zones can sometimes be a hub for incidents and accidents too.
In the past, we’ve seen car accidents in construction zones as well as cases of construction workers getting hit while trying to do their job. At The Injury Firm, we’ve seen it all and our experience means we can help those who have been injured in this type of personal injury. In truth, it doesn’t matter whether you collided with another motorist or perhaps you’re a worker without the workers’ compensation coverage. Based in Fort Lauderdale, our construction zone personal injury lawyer specialists will discuss your legal options with you before then working towards the damages you deserve for the pain and suffering.
Causes of Construction Zone Accidents
When it comes to highway construction zones, they have a reputation for being incredibly dangerous and this is no wonder considering 2017 saw thousands of injuries in addition to several unfortunate deaths in Florida. Ultimately, there can be several reasons for a construction zone car accident.
On the highway, the road will be rearranged with temporary signs, jersey barriers, and traffic cones. Sometimes, three/four-lane roads can be cut right down to a single lane and this leads to impatient and aggressive driving from those in a rush to reach their destination. Elsewhere, you also get drivers who lack the attention of signage and new road markings. With this combination on the road, you quickly get rear-ending and side-swiping with vehicles. Although less common, some drivers also fail to slow down and allow construction vehicles to enter/leave the site. Despite all these causes, it can even just be a case of confusion at times. Below, we have some more causes;
• Construction debris on the road
• Uneven traffic lanes
• Poor markings
• Speeding
• Road rage
• Poor visibility
• Inattentive flag attendant
• Workers entering the traffic lanes
Types of Construction Zone Accidents
As part of the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) is in control of all highway construction zones. In 2014, the FHA reported a death count of 669 in these work zones and this accounted for 2% of all roadway fatalities in the US that year. Due to the reasons we’ve already seen above, the types of accidents can vary from side-swipe collisions to cars hitting construction vehicles, rear-end crashes to collisions with equipment or debris.
Construction Zone Worker Injuries
Sadly, construction zone accidents account for up to 3% of all workplace deaths each year. Since 2005, the numbers have been falling and this is great news but there is still work to do for all involved. With 199 fatalities for roadway construction workers in 2014, this was a decrease of around 13% from the year before. Of these 199, 48% were due to back-overs or run-overs while 14% each fell to getting stuck between equipment/vehicles and colliding with vehicles or mobile equipment.
For regular employees who have been injured on a roadway construction site, they’ll be able to file a workers’ compensation claim. However, this is a problem for many since they work independently as contractors or may not be eligible for workers’ compensation. If you fall into either of these categories, we urge you to get in touch with The Injury Firm. As construction zone accident lawyers, we’ll do all the hard work on your behalf and create a case that allows you to recuperate compensation.
Named FDOT’s Work Zone Fatality Reduction Strategies, the Department of Transportation in Florida has actually launched a program that includes public service announcements, Motorist Awareness System (MAS), an in-depth process of reviewing and training, and temporary raised rumble strips for all necessary operations. Currently, the state is in the top three when it comes to work zone fatalities and these initiatives are an attempt to reduce the problem in the coming years.
Choosing a Construction Zone Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in a construction zone, it’s likely that you’ve had to take time off work and payout for medical attention. If this is the case, our specialists would love to help regardless of whether you were a road user or employee at the accident site. If you were working, the company supervising the site will have had a legal responsibility of safety so we’ll investigate this for you. If the accident was caused by negligence, the guilty party will be liable for your accident.
If you’ve already filed for workers’ compensation, we can still work on a lawsuit if your injury was caused by a negligent, impatient, or irresponsible driver. Over the years, we’ve built the experience and skillset required to get justice for those affected in a construction zone accident.
Contact The Injury Firm - Located in Fort Lauderdale, you can phone 954-951-0000 or browse our website for more information. With an online contact form, you can provide us with the information we need as well as an appropriate time to place a call. After a free consultation, you’ll be under no obligation to choose us but you’ll have all the information regarding how we can help both now and moving into the future.
For an expert construction zone accident lawyer, feel free to get in contact today!
If required, we speak Spanish!
