Northern California Roadway Construction Accident Attorneys
Roadway construction merges a construction site with fast moving highway traffic, creating a potentially deadly situation. Hazards at roadway construction sites exist not just for road crew workers, but also for drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists and even pedestrians. Negligent highway construction crews can create risks for motorists, and negligent motorists may create risks for roadway construction crews. When accidents could have been prevented by more careful driving, or proper placement of construction zones, or better training of road crew workers, the party or parties responsible for an accident may be held liable for a victim's serious injuries or wrongful death.
Highway Construction Accident Statistics
According to the Insurance Journal, more than 1,000 people die each year in accidents at highway construction zones. Thousands more suffer very serious or life-changing injuries, including broken bones, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries. Four out of five highway work zone crash fatalities are drivers and passengers, not highway workers. In 2002, California had 119 work zone deaths, the second highest number of any state after Texas. To reduce deaths, the government is encouraging agencies responsible for roadway construction and maintenance to use total road closures when possible, and long-lasting pavement that requires less maintenance and fewer repairs.
Highway Construction Zones and Speeding Accidents
When a driver is speeding, or traveling faster than is safe for road conditions, the risk of a collision or loss of control is always heightened, due to a reduced reaction time. In construction zones, a number of obstacles, such as equipment, debris, and uneven surfaces may surprise a motorist and require a sudden, immediate stop. If a driver is speeding, he or she may not be able to stop a vehicle in time to prevent a collision with another vehicle, a construction worker, guardrail, or other object. Speeding is especially dangerous in road construction zones. In California, traffic violations are doubled in construction zones when workers are present.
Accidents Caused by Negligence
Construction zones are filled with hazards and abnormal conditions. For example, a normal three-lane highway may be reduced to one lane, or a flagman may require traffic to suddenly slow down and stop. Accidents can occur when drivers are drunk, fall asleep at the wheel, or are distracted by cells phones, car radios, food, GPS devices, or simply don't pay attention to posted warnings signs, resulting in injury or death to a construction worker. Other accidents may occur when construction companies fail to post adequate temporary construction signs to warn other drivers of road construction or repair on a highway. Preventing accidents at roadwork zones is the responsibility of both government agencies, the construction companies they contract with, and motorists.
Liability Involving Roadway Construction Injuries and Death
The Northern California car accident attorneys at Estey Bomberger represent victims who have suffered serious injury or the death of a loved one an accident at a roadway construction site. Our lawyers have represented families of highway workers who have been killed by drunk or distracted drivers; our attorneys have also represented drivers and passengers who have suffered serious injury in roadway construction accidents caused by negligent or reckless construction companies and their employees.
Financial Compensation for Road Construction Accident Injuries and Deaths
When a road construction accident is caused by the negligent actions of another, injured victims or families of those killed may seek justice in a California personal injury or wrongful death claim. Damages awarded in a personal injury claim may include money to cover medical care and expenses, lost earnings and wages, pain and suffering and other accident related expenses. Compensation for a wrongful death claim may include monetary damages for final medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, anticipated future earnings and benefits of the decedent, and loss of love, care and companionship.
Free Consultation to Protect Your Rights
Estey Bomberger is committed to protecting the rights of victims of roadway construction accidents and their families. If you or a family member has been involved in a road construction accident, contact our Northern California hazardous road accident attorneys for more information about your legal rights and a free consultation. For immediate assistance, call us anytime at (800) 890-6722. In your free case review, one of our attorneys will review the facts of the accident, explain the unique legal issues and merits of your potential claim, answer your questions, and give you an honest opinion of the potential value of your case.