Car Accidents in Alabama Construction Zones

Crashes around work zones can result in severe injuries and fatalities

Work zones on highways and roads can be dangerous places. With so many people and so much activity taking place in construction zones, car accidents often occur, resulting in serious injuries or sometimes even fatalities.

So, just how common are work zone car accidents in Alabama, and what legal rights do injury victims have? Our car accident attorneys at Dean Waite & Associates, LLC in Mobile, Alabama, explain what you need to know.

How common are construction zone car accidents?

Motor vehicle accidents in construction zones occur at an alarming rate. Specifically, more than 42,000 people each year on average sustain injuries in car accidents that occur in work zones nationwide, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). In addition, more than 900 people each year, on average, die in fatal work zone car accidents.

Many of these car accident injuries and fatalities involve drivers and vehicle passengers. However, many construction workers are also injured or killed due to collisions caused by negligent or reckless drivers in road work zones. Specifically, an average of 55 construction workers die each year in car accident construction zone accidents, according to the NSC and based on workplace fatality data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Construction zone accidents in Alabama

Like the rest of the country, work zone accidents in Alabama occur often and frequently result in serious injuries or fatalities. In the past decade, 17 people each year on average have died in work zone car accidents in Alabama, according to the NSC and based on accident data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Most of these Alabama car accident fatalities included the drivers of vehicles involved in construction zone accidents. However, many pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicle passengers were also injured or died in these work zone collisions.

How do car accidents happen in work zones?

Construction zone car accidents occur for many different reasons. Some of the most common causes of work zone collisions include:

Changing traffic patterns – Construction zones often require temporary changes to traffic patterns, such as lane closures, detours, or shifts in road alignment. These alterations can confuse drivers, especially if they are speeding or distracted, leading to uncertainty about which lane to use or how to navigate through the construction area.
Sudden change in speed limits – Work zones typically have reduced speed limits to ensure the safety of both workers and drivers. However, some drivers may fail to notice or obey these speed limit changes.
Narrower traffic lanes – Road work projects sometimes require the temporary narrowing of traffic lanes to accommodate construction vehicles, equipment, or materials. Narrower lanes can make it more challenging for drivers to maintain their position within the lane and increase the likelihood of sideswiping adjacent vehicles or fixed objects, such as barriers or construction cones.
Obstructions in road – Construction zones often have obstructions in the roadway, such as construction materials, equipment, debris, or temporary barriers. Sometimes, construction workers leave these objects in the road, creating hazardous situations that result in accidents.
Distracted driving – Drivers need to pay close attention while driving in work zones. Unfortunately, some drivers are busy texting, talking on the phone, eating, or adjusting navigation systems while driving in a construction zone, resulting in a car crash.
Construction vehicles in construction zones – Many times, construction vehicles and equipment are parked in work zones and obstruct traffic flow, limit visibility, and create bottlenecks, which often directly cause work zone car accidents.

What are common construction zone injuries?

A wide range of severe injuries often occur as a result of work zone car accidents, including:

Concussions and other types of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
Whiplash, which is a type of soft tissue injury often involving the neck muscles, especially in cases involving rear-end accidents in work zones.
Bone fractures, especially broken bones in the skull, face, arms and legs. Hip fractures are also especially common.
Internal injuries, including internal bleeding and organ damage, which often occur due to severe, high-speed construction zone accidents.

Who’s responsible for my injuries after a work zone crash?

The answer depends on who caused your accident. If another driver was at fault, that driver’s insurance company will likely be liable for your medical bills and other accident-related expenses.

However, if someone working in the construction zone was at fault, you may be able to obtain financial compensation from the business for which the at-fault party works.

This might sound simple, especially if a construction worker’s actions clearly caused the collision. However, actually getting the money an injured car accident victim rightfully deserves can be extremely challenging. This is why the best course of action after a work zone accident is to talk to an attorney as soon as possible to learn more about your legal rights.

What legal options are available to work zone accident injury victims in Alabama?

In most cases, you often have several options for getting the money you deserve for your accident-related expenses in Alabama. These options often include:

A settlement claim from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. This is a one-time payment intended to cover all current and future accident expenses.
Before agreeing to accept a settlement offer, ask for more money and negotiate a better offer.
File a lawsuit against the at-fault driver’s insurance company or another at-fault party.

Whatever approach you decide to take, our Alabama law firm can fight for you.

Why should I hire a car accident attorney after a work zone crash?

Construction zone accidents in Alabama involving other drivers and construction companies can quickly turn into complicated legal cases. This is because there can be a lot at stake for everyone involved. Rather than paying crash victims the money they deserve, some insurance companies, construction companies, and their lawyers will do everything possible to reduce or deny such claims.

That’s not right. That’s why the car accident lawyers at Dean Waite & Associates, LLC are here to help. We know the games insurance companies play after a work zone car accident, and we don’t tolerate them. We know what evidence to look for, what questions to ask, and how to build a strong, effective legal case for the compensation our clients deserve.

Don’t hesitate if you were injured in a work zone car accident. Call Dean Waite and learn how our legal team can help you demand justice. Contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation. Our office is in Mobile, Alabama, and we handle accident claims statewide.

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