Road construction zones are becoming more common on highways around the country, especially in urban areas where residential neighborhoods and commercial developments are being built. Construction on highways in these areas will reduce traffic tie-ups and improve travel times. However, while construction is ongoing, it creates a lot of problems for drivers who often have little warning that they’re approaching a construction area.
Why Construction Zones Pose High Risks For Drivers
Road construction is risky because drivers are exposed to situations they don’t usually face on their everyday commute. Driving under these conditions can be dangerous due to drivers who drive too fast in stop-and-go traffic, environmental issues, or construction crews. Drivers may have to shift lanes when they least expect it, due to impatient construction workers who give last-minute instructions, lane barriers that aren’t properly posted, or confusing directions. Problems like this can cause drivers to swerve quickly and sideswipe another vehicle.
If a speed limit is lowered by as much as 30 mph, drivers who may be traveling at a faster speed don’t have time to slow down, which may cause a rear-end crash. When construction crews are resurfacing a road, loose gravel can impact tire traction and make it difficult to stop suddenly. Sometimes, traffic accidents occur in construction zones due to work crews who park their equipment too close to moving traffic or don’t put up warning signs alerting drivers to narrow lanes ahead.
One of the most frequent problems in construction zones is distracted driving. Traveling through a construction area can be frustrating and confusing. When a driver is distracted because they’re checking their GPS, talking on their phone, or scrolling through text messages, they run the risk of getting into a fender bender.
Common Traffic Accidents in Construction Zones
Vehicle crashes in construction zones are a common problem. Drivers can’t predict how people in other vehicles will react to unusual circumstances. Unexpected obstacles and instructions to drivers could be confusing and create situations in which accidents happen. One of the most common traffic accidents in a construction area is rear-end collisions. Slower traffic flow and unexpected braking are usually the cause of these accidents. When drivers don’t have sufficient time to merge in a narrow lane, they run the risk of a sideswipe.
Construction equipment and barriers, including workers’ vehicles, road cones, dump trucks, and concrete walls, all contribute to confusion and accidents during road construction. Sometimes contractors and road crews are part of the problem when they direct cars at the wrong time, don’t control the flow of traffic, or place signs in the wrong area. If one driver doesn’t judge the distance that should be kept between vehicles, especially during inclement weather, the result could be an accident involving multiple vehicles.
Who Could Be at Fault For an Accident in a Construction Area?
Determining who is at fault for an accident in a construction zone could be complicated since several people or companies may be involved, and may include:
- A driver who is negligent
- A Construction company
- A government agency
- Equipment operators
One of the primary causes of construction zone accidents is drivers who are negligent. The most common causes of vehicle crashes are drivers who don’t pay attention to warning signs, speeding, aggressively changing lanes, and texting while driving are common in driver-related accidents.
When a construction company doesn’t put up the proper signage to warn drivers entering a construction area, or they fail to set up the construction zone properly, the contractor may be liable for accidents. Government agencies that are responsible for designing or being in charge of a project could be held liable for crashes that occur in work areas that are considered unsafe.
A construction company operator may be responsible for a crash if they drive their equipment into traffic. When incidents like this occur, an investigation to determine who was at fault takes place. When some of these crashes occur in work zones, multiple parties may share responsibility. An investigation determines how the crash occurred and who was at fault.
There are specific steps to take if you’re involved in an accident in a construction zone. You should immediately report the incident. Filing a police report is essential for documentation of conditions at the work area at the time of the crash. Videos and photos of the crash site, including debris, markings on lanes, traffic flow, signs, and barriers, can be evidence of the incident.
Workers at the construction site or other drivers may have seen the incident. It’s important to get witness information. If you suffer an injury, you should get medical attention right away. In some cases, an insurance company may attempt to prove that injuries weren’t the cause of the accident.
Government offices and defendants from corporations may be involved in your case. Taking legal action quickly is important. A thorough investigation into an accident at a construction zone is necessary for your case. An experienced construction accident lawyer considers every aspect of the incident, including the behavior of the drivers involved, traffic, the decisions made by the construction foreman, and whether the safety regulations governed by the state were followed.
