Construction Zone Accidents
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, thirty percent of all work zone crashes involve large trucks with 1,000 fatalities and over 18,000 injuries over the past five years Each state’s Department of Transportation controls construction zones on roads and highways and all signage.
Roadwork and construction zones and can be very dangerous due to the change in traffic patterns, sudden vehicle speed decrease, delays and traffic back-ups, and motorist confusion and distraction.
Our accident lawyers understand that a typical work zone area has four distinct sections that can be dangers to drivers:
1. Advanced Warning Area – Up to several miles ahead of a construction zone, this area has signage at specific intervals to warn motorists of upcoming construction. Sometimes traffic congestion occurs in this area and rear-end collisions are common. Drivers are to slow down and use extreme caution as they proceed.
2. Transition Area – Construction cones, barrels, and markers move traffic out of its normal path to allow for the closure of a lane and construction. Merge and sideswipes accidents happen here.
3. Activity Area – Construction work is happening in this area and can cause head-on and rear-end collisions. Drivers can be distracted by the construction activity around them.
4. Termination Area – This lane of the construction zone that tapers to allow for normal traffic flow beyond the road construction.
Unfortunately, there have been multiple times when the truck driver did not slow or stop and slammed the truck into stopped traffic, taking many lives. In these cases, we always want to answer not only why the truck driver did not stop, but also why he was put in the situation that led to the crash.
You Are Not Alone After A Serious Accident
The inherent hazards in a road construction zone pose a great danger to the traveling public and construction workers. If you or a loved one is involved in a construction zone accident, please email or call The Gori Law Firm in Edwardsville, Illinois, for an immediate, attorney-led evaluation of your case: 618-307-4085 or 888-362-6890.