Construction Zone Accidents
Although a number of states have taken steps to help prevent construction zone accidents, an alarming number still occur on regular basis. In fact, the Federal Highway Administration estimates that approximately 96,626 work zone crashes took place in 2015 alone. Many of these accidents occurred in Florida, where road construction is not uncommon, especially on freeways and busy streets. Like other states, Florida has passed a series of laws and safety measures to help prevent these kinds of accidents. Unfortunately, when jobs are not completed on time, or employees do not properly clean up road debris, work zone collisions may become unavoidable. If you were injured in this type of crash, it is important to contact an experienced car accident attorney who can explain whether you are eligible to collect compensation from the construction company, its employees, or the city itself.
When are Work Zone Accidents Most Likely to Occur?
Although work zone collisions can happen at any time, the majority of fatal crashes occur in the summer and fall when the number of road construction projects is at its height. These types of accidents also tend to occur on roads with speed limits greater than 50 miles per hour, which is largely attributed to the fact that at this speed it becomes much more difficult to stop in time to avoid a collision. This is especially true in inclement weather. For example, a car traveling at 50 miles per hour will travel for 300 feet after the brakes are applied before coming to a complete stop. However, this only applies when the roadway in question is dry. When the road is wet, the distance is increased to 400 feet and when conditions are icy, a car could travel as far as 1250 feet before coming to a stop. Commercial trucks are even harder to stop, and require almost 50 percent more stopping distance than standard sized passenger vehicles.
Liability for Construction Zone Collisions
Rear-end crashes are the most common type of construction zone collision and are often the result of a driver failing to see traffic signs indicating the following:
- The beginning of a construction zone;
- Changes in speed limits; or
- Upcoming lane shifts.
A driver’s failure to abide by road signs is considered negligence under Florida law if it causes an accident. This means that a driver who was injured in an accident as a result of another driver’s failure to comply with traffic laws or road signs may be able to collect compensation from that party. If, on the other hand, a driver is injured as a result of worker negligence, defective pavement, or construction road debris, he or she may be able to seek compensation from the state, city, or a private construction company. However, filing a lawsuit against a city or state government is notoriously difficult, as it requires plaintiffs to comply with a series of deadlines and special filing requirements, making it especially important for individuals whose injuries were caused by government negligence to speak with an attorney before filing a claim.
Get the Legal Representation You Deserve
If you were injured in a construction zone accident, please contact one of the experienced Fort Lauderdale auto accident attorneys at Boone & Davis by calling 954-566-9919 to learn more about your legal options. We are prepared to begin working on your behalf immediately.
Resource:
ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/resources/facts_stats/safety.htm
