Risk Of Car Accidents Increase With Road Construction

Florida’s temperate climate and generally balmy weather mean that road construction is possible for much of the year. During the summer months, however, there is often an additional uptick in road construction in Florida. These numbers are only expected to go up, as Florida was recently given a C grade for overall infrastructure by the federal government, which noted that there were more than 3,560 miles of highway and 400 bridges in the state in poor condition.

While such construction is often necessary to update outdated road designs and reduce traffic, it can also put motorists at risk of serious injury. Determining liability in these cases can pose particular difficulties, as the construction crews involved are often employed by the state, making it especially important for those who are involved in road construction-related accidents, to speak with an experienced Fort Lauderdale auto accident lawyer before proceeding with their cases.

Road Construction Projects in Florida

Florida has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years. While this has had positive repercussions in regards to employment and the standard of living, it has also placed heavy burdens on the existing roadways and traffic infrastructure across the state. For instance, one recent study named a stretch of road between Tampa and Daytona as the deadliest highway in the country. To help address these problems, the governor accelerated a $2.1 billion grant for critical transportation infrastructure projects last year, which includes the Howard Frankland Bridge project, a widening of S.R. 80, and the highway Design Build Project in Miami. Other projects to widen highways and add auxiliary lanes with emergency stopping sites have also been initiated across the state. The sheer number and scale of these projects has, however, raised concerns about the dangerous nature of road construction for drivers.

Why Road Construction is Dangerous

Active road construction zones can significantly increase a person’s chances of being involved in a car accident. This has proven especially true in Florida, which reported the second highest number of deadly road construction crashes in the U.S. in 2019. Many of these crashes can be attributed to drivers, who fail to comply with more stringent speed limits, passing limitations, and yielding requirements. These are not, however, the only causes of road construction accidents, which can also often be linked to negligence on the part of construction crews who fail to:

• Post adequate warning signs at appropriate intervals;
• Follow proper procedures when directing traffic;
• Operate heavy machinery safely; and
• Ensure that all traffic lanes are cleared of tools, debris, and vehicles in off-hours.

This type of negligence can have serious consequences for drivers, who are more likely to be involved in rear-end crashes, tractor-trailer accidents, and pile-up collisions in construction zones, all of which can result in devastating injuries.

Set Up a Free Case Review Today

If you were injured in a Florida construction zone accident, you could be entitled to damages from another driver, a construction company, or even a government agency. To learn more, please reach out to our experienced auto accident attorneys at Boone & Davis by calling 954-566-9919 today.

Resource:

thecentersquare.com/florida/white-house-assessment-gives-florida-s-infrastructure-a-c-grade/article_1c2237fc-9bbe-11eb-8825-77a1d62def28.html