Michael John Tario
Published on the 14th of October 2022 in Personal Injury
Within the Pacific Northwest, we normally consider road construction season being in summer however here in Whatcom County we have some coming road construction work on I-5 and Mt. Baker Highway that will impact the traffic in the coming week. Along with road work come objects like construction cones , and equipment that block areas of the highway. They can cause long or frustrating delays as well as the necessity to reduce speed when traveling in the area of construction. Zones of construction pose danger to the road, and it’s not surprising to find that they’re linked with higher numbers of incidents.
What are the causes behind Construction Zone Accidents
There are many principal causes for accident in the construction area:
1. Follow too closely. Drivers who follow another driver excessively within a construction zone, with cars already crowded close together, they’re in danger of causing a multiple-car rear-end collision.
2. The number of lanes is reduced. The reduced number of lanes can lead to slower speeds and could increase the chance of being involved in an accident by motorists who aren’t aware the fact that lanes are shrinking.
3. Lanes that are narrow. The narrowing of lanes could cause drivers to scratch the sides of their vehicle with something on the road or on the side of another vehicle.
4. The road is full of obstacles. The road is full of obstacles that may increase the likelihood of a crash, particularly one-vehicle crashes.
5. Detours. Detours which are often required to avoid road construction can lead motorists to be lost or confused that could raise the chance of collisions.
6. Distracted driving. Drivers with a higher risk of distraction tend to be more inclined to do things like text and drive as they speed up. As construction zones usually have drivers slowing down, the possibility of driving distracted is increased, as does the higher risk of accident caused by distracted driving.
7. Speeding. Although most drivers adhere to the rules for slowing down when in construction zones, many do not. Driving too fast in a small space in a car with others all around can lead to accidents.
Construction zone accident statistics
Accidents can happen more often when in construction zones due to their additional dangers. For instance, in Washington State, there are approximately 626 accidents in the work zone of highways every year.
According to wsdot.wa.gov nearly 94 percent of people hurt or killed in workplace accidents are workers as well as their passengers. The amount of injured within construction zones increases as the area of construction gets larger. Weather conditions that are bad increase the dangers of construction zone accident.
Looking for the damages resulting from a construction site accident
If you or your loved one has been injured in the course of a collision in the construction zone because of the carelessness of someone else, you’re right to pursue damages against the responsible party. Injuries resulting from crashes in construction zones are the same as damages that result from any type of vehicle accidents. The driver may be able to recover the cost of medical bills, pain and suffering, income loss as well as damages to property (normally on the car) as well as the disability. In the event of a fatal accident and the victim’s family can claim damages as a result of awrongful claim for death, such as funeral costs and burial expenses and loss of income and the loss of friendship against the responsible third party.
Although the majority of claims for injuries result from the fault of an at-fault motorist, some accident in the construction zone is result of carelessness on the part the construction firm or the workers who are in charge of construction. If, for instance, inadequate warning signage was put in place to warn motorists of imminent risks and road hazards, and the dangers that they pose are responsible for an accident, the person responsible for the signs could be held accountable. In certain cases it is possible that the government could be held accountable for the accident in the construction zone as they’re the ones accountable for road repairs as well as safety.
A seasoned lawyer for car accidents can review the particulars of each case , and decide who is responsible for the damages. They will also guide with each stage of the claim process in order so that you can receive an adequate and fair settlement to cover your losses as well as injuries.
Get the assistance from a lawyer for car accidents
If you or your family member was hurt during a crash due to negligence on the part of someone else or another, get in touch with an injury attorney for a discussion of your legal rights. An experienced and knowledgeable attorney for victims of car accidents defend all the compensation you’re entitled to. It’s not unusual to get a settlement by the insurance provider that’s five to 10-fold greater through the assistance of lawyers. Contact the personal injury attorneys in Tario & Associates, P.S. located in Bellingham, WA today for no-cost consultation! We’ve been representing the clients from Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. We will not charge you anything upfront and there will be no attorney fees unless we are able to recover damages for your benefit!
Sources:
TRAFFIC ALERT: Roadwork and traffic impacts expected on I-5, Mt Baker Highway and more next week
https://wsdot.wa.gov/about/events-programs/give-em-brake#:~:text=Washington%20averages%20almost%20626%20highway,are%20drivers%20and%20their%20passengers.
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