Road construction accidents frequently happen in Los Angeles. Even though construction zones in Los Angeles are often covered with warning signs and orange safety cones, road construction accidents continue to occur regularly. Despite all of the preemptive safety strategies that construction companies take, distracted drivers, traffic jams, unsafe construction zones, and negligent drivers can contribute to a dangerous road construction accident.
If you’ve suffered a personal injury in a road construction accident, you may be entitled to damages. At SoCal Injury Lawyers, we have extensive experience representing victims of road construction accidents. Whether a construction company or a negligent driver caused your injuries, we can help you seek the compensation you deserve. The sooner you speak to a personal injury lawyer, the better. Contact our Los Angeles personal injury law firm as soon as possible to schedule your initial consultation.
Road Construction Accidents Are Far Too Common
Highway construction zones are some of the most dangerous areas on the road. According to the US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, approximately 200,000 people have suffered injuries in road construction accidents. Of those injured, 4,400 people died as a result of the accident. Drivers of passenger vehicles most often suffer fatalities from work zone crashes, and most deaths from road construction accidents happened to working-age adults.
Common Causes of Road Construction Accidents
The most common type of road construction accident involves a rear-end crash in which one vehicle runs into the rear of a stopped or slowing car in front. Most serious road construction accidents happen in the summer and fall, and the majority of fatal work zone accidents occur on highways and freeways with speed limits over 50 miles per hour.
The faster the driver is driving, the more time he or she needs to stop to avoid colliding with a road work zone. In many cases, a distracted driver fails to stop in time to avoid crashing into the work construction site. Negligent drivers who strike construction workers can cause the workers serious injuries, including paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, or even death.
Determining Who Is At Fault
When a driver negligently veers into a construction site or another driver near a construction site, he or she will be liable for the injuries caused by the car accident. In some cases, the construction company itself is responsible for the road construction accident. In some cases, construction companies do not post adequate signage, or construction workers negligently back up heavy machinery into oncoming traffic, causing a collision. Many fatal road work accidents involve large commercial trucks. Of the many construction zone deaths that occur every year, the majority involve the following industries:
- Highway maintenance workers
- Construction workers
- Tractor-trailer truck drivers
- Heavy equipment operators
- Supervisors
The business or municipality responsible for the construction work zone may be liable for injuries caused by accident. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) owes other drivers and construction workers a duty of care to maintain safe construction zones. Nonetheless, construction accidents can and do happen when these agencies fail to post proper warnings, mark uneven pavement, or post signs telling drivers to reduce their speed. If Caltrans is responsible for your injuries, you will need to file a notice of claim within six months of the accident’s date before filing a lawsuit against them.
Failure to Merge Properly
Failure to merge appropriately is another common cause of road construction accidents in Los Angeles. Distracted drivers who are texting, talking, or zoning out might not notice orange safety cones directing them to merge. At the last minute, they may swerve to avoid hitting the safety cones and instead collide with another vehicle. Or, a driver could look down to change the radio station and swerve into a road construction area. Road construction areas are often full of dangerous heavy machinery. When a passenger vehicle collides with his machinery, the consequences can be hazardous and even fatal.
Failure to Follow Safety Signs
Construction companies and the City of Los Angeles often post safety signs and speed limit signs along the highway as drivers approach the work zone. Drivers have a legal obligation to drive at or below the posted reduced speed limit around a work zone. When drivers fail to obey the speed limit signs, other safety signs, and the instruction so the flaggers, dangerous accidents can happen.
Recovering Compensation After a Road Construction Injury
Drivers owe other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians a duty to drive reasonably under the circumstances. Drivers should focus their entire attention on the roadway, allowing them to notice upcoming safety signs and traffic cones. When drivers act negligently, they can miss these warning signs and cause a serious accident. If you suffered an injury in a road construction accident, you could recover damages through a personal injury lawsuit. As a plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit, you will need to prove that the defendant’s negligence or recklessness caused your injuries.
The legal team at SoCal Injury Lawyers has the experience and resources needed to investigate your claim thoroughly. We work with accident reconstruction experts who help us prove that the at-fault driver is liable for your injuries. Successful personal injury plaintiffs are entitled to economic and non-economic damages for their injuries. Economic damages include compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and any other expenses caused by your injuries. Non-economic damages include compensation for mental anguish, pain, and suffering.
Contact Our Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers Today
At SoCal Injury Lawyers, we are dedicated to helping our clients obtain compensation for their personal injuries. We understand that a road construction accident can have a devastating physical, financial, and emotional impact on victims. The sooner you speak with an experienced lawyer, the better. Contact our Southern California law firm today to schedule your initial consultation.