Construction Zone Accidents
Although we’ve all seen car accidents on the freeway, we are often left with no explanation as to their causes. Surprisingly, many of these accidents involve or occur in work zones. In fact, the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) announced that an estimated 96,626 car accidents take place in work zones every year. These collisions often result in devastating injuries that are both expensive and painful to treat, so if you were injured in an accident that occurred in a work zone, it is important to speak with an experienced car accident attorney who can help you seek compensation for your medical expenses and other losses.
Common Work Zone Traffic Accidents
While any type of car crash can happen in a work zone, there are some types of accidents that are especially common, including rear end crashes, which according to the FHA, are the most common types of work zone accidents. These kinds of accidents are often the result of distracted driving caused by a failure to see traffic signs that indicate roadwork, upcoming lane shifts, or changes in speed limit. Unfortunately, most of these accidents also occur on roads with a speed limit exceeding 50 mph, which means that they usually result in substantial damage. It is also not uncommon for accidents that occur in work zones to cause multi-car pile-ups, which are especially dangerous and can result in fatal injuries.
Who is Liable?
Those who are injured in work zone car accidents caused by distracted driving may be able to collect compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurer, or in serious cases, by filing a personal injury claim. However, work zone accidents also have a number of other different causes, including poor pavement condition, the presence of construction debris in the road, or worker negligence. In these cases, the injured party may be able to seek compensation from the private construction company responsible for the mistake, or even the government agency in charge of maintaining the roads.
Filing a claim against a city or state is often more difficult than suing a private entity, as plaintiffs are required to follow a different set of rules. For example, plaintiffs who file claims against the government in Florida must submit a notice of claim within three years of the accident. This deadline is then followed by a mandatory six month waiting period, after which the plaintiff can pursue the claim in court. These types are often made even more complicated by the fact that work zone accidents can have a number of different causes, ranging from uneven pavement causing one car to collide with another to negligently placed construction equipment. In these cases, it is especially critical to speak with an attorney who can help the injured party conduct an in-depth investigation into the primary cause of the accident.
Call Our Legal Team Today
If you were injured in a work zone accident, please contact a member of the dedicated car accident legal team at Boone & Davis by calling 954-566-9919 today. We are eager to assist you throughout each step of your case.
Resource:
ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/resources/facts_stats/safety.htm
