As a driver in California, you have likely passed through countless freeway and roadside construction zones. Work zones are critical for maintaining high-traffic corridors and improving road safety overall. While construction zones are active, however, they can create a significant hazard for drivers and workers alike.
What Can Cause a Construction Zone Car Accident?
Car accidents in construction zones are often caused by negligence, or the failure of a person or party to act with proper care. If a driver is negligent when passing through a roadside work zone, for example, he or she may make dangerous mistakes behind the wheel that ultimately lead to a worker injury or death. Examples include:
- Speeding
- Ignoring posted warning or detour signs
- Driving while distracted or texting and driving
- Failing to recognize hazards
- Following too closely
- Failing to merge or move over where directed
- Driving drowsy or impaired
In some cases, the construction company’s negligence causes or contributes to work zone car accidents. Leaving tools and equipment too close to the road, failing to post adequate warning signs, and designing complicated detours can make construction zones more dangerous for drivers and workers than they need to be.
Who Is Liable for Car Accidents in Construction Zones?
Everyone involved in a roadside construction zone has a legal responsibility to take care to ensure the safety of the job. This includes those on the construction side as well as motor vehicle drivers passing through work zones in California. If an accident occurs and causes injury or harm to either party, the victim may be eligible for financial compensation. A victim may be able to bring a car accident claim against any of the following at-fault parties:
- A construction company
- A worker
- A contractor or subcontractor
- A motor vehicle driver
- The government
An investigation of the accident will determine who was behaving negligently or breached the duty of care at the time of the collision. If someone is assigned fault or liability for the incident, the victim may recover compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, disability, pain and suffering, and more.
How to File a Claim After a Construction Zone Car Accident in California
If you get involved in a work zone accident in California as a driver, pull over and call 911 to report the crash. Cooperate with law enforcement, but don’t admit fault. If you are injured, get medical care right away. Call your car insurance provider to report the crash. Then, contact a car accident lawyer to investigate the accident and explore your recovery options. If you get struck by a motor vehicle or otherwise injured while working at a roadside construction site in California, report the incident to your employer or site manager. Seek professional medical treatment and keep copies of your hospital bills. Before filing a workers’ compensation claim or accepting a settlement, contact a construction accident lawyer for advice you can trust.
Improving Work Zone Safety
In 2022, 891 people were killed in fatal work zone traffic accidents in the United States. The majority of victims were motor vehicle drivers and their passengers (742), while 145 were bicyclists, workers and pedestrians. Speeding was a factor in 34 percent of these collisions. Improving work zone safety is a group effort by everyone involved. The government agency in charge of the project should take steps to ensure public safety, while the construction company should properly train its workers and prevent foreseeable crash risks. Finally, drivers passing through roadside construction zones should reduce their speeds, pay attention to the road and obey all posted construction signs. If you get injured in a construction zone car accident – whether inside or outside of a vehicle – contact Bridgford, Gleason & Artinian for a free legal consultation.