Road work is necessary to build new highways and maintain existing roads when they become damaged due to weather and wear and tear. Unfortunately, a lot of construction occurs on roads and highways that are heavily used and cannot be fully shut down while the work is underway. As a result, road work zones put vehicles, construction workers, heavy equipment, and pedestrians in close proximity to one another, increasing the chances of an accident occurring.
Serious accidents are disruptive and disorienting to those injured. Trusted legal guidance can help you move forward. If you have been injured by a construction zone accident in the Richmond area, a work zone accident lawyer at Marks & Harrison can help you understand the options available for seeking compensation for your injuries.
For over a century, Marks & Harrison has fought for the rights of injured victims throughout Virginia. The firm has a strong record of success as reflected by our numerous honors and recognitions. Marks & Harrison appears on the U.S. News-Best Lawyers®’ 2021 list of Best Law Firms regionally in three practice areas. With a legal team of 26 attorneys supported by a staff of more than 100, you can trust that we have the experience and resources to handle the complexities that may arise in a work zone accident case.
Call us today to discuss your legal rights with a knowledgeable Richmond work zone accident lawyer. The case review is free. We’ll take the time to understand your challenges and goals and help you understand how to move forward.
Why Are Accidents Common in Work Zones?
Many roads and highways around Richmond have heavy traffic at certain times of the day. Traffic congestion only gets worse when a road or highway is put under construction or repair. Construction zones often require lanes to be closed, or traffic patterns to be shifted and lanes merged to accommodate the road work. This can create bottlenecks for traffic, especially during the summer when most road construction occurs.
Due to traffic congestion, changing traffic patterns, narrowed lanes, and vehicles traveling at different speeds, work zones create the perfect conditions for car accidents to occur. Drivers can get confused about lane mergers or shifts and stop suddenly, potentially leading to a collision. Drivers also may fail to exercise due care by driving too fast or following too closely when passing through a work zone.
How Often Do Work Zone Accidents Occur?
According to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse, a database maintained by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, a total of 762 fatal work zone crashes occurred nationwide in 2019, resulting in 842 individual fatalities. Of these crashes, 247 involved commercial trucks. Construction workers represented 135 of the individual fatalities.
In Virginia, there was a total of 17 fatal work zone accidents and fatalities in 2019, with five accidents involving commercial trucks.
What Are Common Causes of Construction Zone Accidents?
Some of the most frequent causes of construction zone accidents in Richmond include:
- Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
- Tailgating
- Distracted driving, such as talking on a cell phone, adjusting a radio or navigation system, eating or drinking, reaching around the passenger cabin, or simply daydreaming
- Drowsy or fatigued drivers
- Driver inexperience
- Reckless driving, including weaving in and out of heavy traffic
- Failing to follow detour signs or shifted traffic lanes
- Failing to merge out of closed lanes
- Failing to follow directions given by construction zone workers or police officers on traffic duty
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
Other factors that can lead to a work zone accident include failure to have sufficient road signs to direct traffic, unmarked lane changes, adverse weather such as rain or fog, or low lighting at night that can affect drivers’ visibility.
Who’s Liable in a Work Zone Accident?
Determining fault in a work zone accident can be complicated because of the many parties involved. Many work zone accidents occur because of a motorist’s negligence, such as driving too fast in a work zone, failing to follow directions, or distracted driving, for example. A driver who hits a construction worker or pedestrian in a work zone due to carelessness may be held liable for the accident victim’s injuries and losses.
Many work zone accidents are caused by commercial trucks, which require more distance to stop. If a truck driver fails to slow the truck’s speed as directed by reduced speed limit signs, then the trucker may be liable in a collision caused by excess speed. In addition to the truck driver, other parties that can be liable for a construction zone accident involving a commercial truck include the trucking company, the freight company, or even the manufacturer of the truck or of parts used on the truck.
The construction company managing the work zone also may be liable for injuries suffered by motorists, road workers, or pedestrians, in a work zone accident. The construction company may end up causing an accident in their work zone because they:
- Failed to place or improperly placed detour or warning signs
- Failed to place cones, barricades, or hazard lights to mark the construction zone
- Failed to properly mark lane shifts or mergers, or closed traffic lanes
- Failed to keep the work zone free of hazards
Finally, a local or state government agency responsible for the road where a work zone accident occurs may also have liability for an accident when the agency has the responsibility to mark a work zone. The process of pursuing a claim against a government entity has specific notification requirements and is more complicated than pursuing a claim against a private individual or entity.
Our Work Zone Accident Lawyer Can Help You
If you have been injured in a work zone due to a truck or other motor vehicle accident, contact Marks & Harrison today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Richmond work zone accident lawyer. Our attorneys will fight for you to receive just compensation from those at fault for the work zone accident.
Call today to learn what our firm can do to help you seek the financial compensation you need to treat your injuries and get your life back after a devastating accident.
