Road Construction & Work Zone Accidents
Personal Injury Lawyer Reviewing Work Zone & Road Construction Accident Cases Nationwide
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Road Construction & Work Zone Accident Lawsuits
Highway and street construction zones are among the most dangerous areas on American roads. Despite safety barriers and warning signs, crashes in work zones continue to rise each year, often because of speeding drivers, poor traffic control, or unsafe site setups.
For construction workers and motorists alike, a single mistake can lead to tragedy. Victims of these accidents deserve compensation for their injuries, medical costs, and lost income. An experienced work zone accident lawyer can guide them through the legal process and identify the parties responsible for unsafe conditions.
Common Types of Work Zone Accidents
Work zone crashes occur in many ways, depending on the site layout and safety practices in place. Common scenarios include:
- Rear-end collisions caused by abrupt lane changes or traffic slowdowns
- Vehicle strikes on workers due to driver distraction or poor visibility
- Equipment accidents involving cranes, dump trucks, or paving machines
- Falling debris or unsecured materials injuring bystanders
- Chain-reaction crashes caused by inadequate warning signage
Road construction and roadway work zones are dangerous work sites both for passing motorists and for on-site workers. Construction work zone accidents result in a large number of catastrophic and fatal accidents each year across America, and many are considered preventable with proper site design and management.
In recent years there were an estimated annual total of almost 100,000 crashes in work zones, an increase in recent years. With more road work, more accidents are more likely. Accidents are most likely to occur on urban interstates, road and bridges, and can have fatal consequences.
For those injured while working at a highway, bridge or road construction work zone, compensation may be available, and a claim against a negligent party can recover payment for medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost wages.
Joe Lyon is an experienced Catastrophic Injury Lawyer and Workplace negligence attorney representing inured plaintiffs nationwide following work zone accidents.
Common Work Zone Accidents & Injuries
- Equipment crush injury
- Slips and falls
- Toxic Asphalt Exposure
- Crane Accidents
- Car Collisions
- Severe Whiplash
- Explosions
- Power line electrocution
- Brain Injury
- Neck & Spinal Injury
The majority of fatal work zone accidents involve a worker making contact with a passing vehicle or on-site piece of heavy equipment. Construction workers are just as likely to be struck by a dump truck, road grader, or other heavy vehicle as a passing car. About half of work zone accidents involve backing vehicles.
Why Work Zone Accidents Happen
Investigations into work zone incidents often reveal multiple layers of negligence. Frequent contributing factors include:
- Distracted or impaired drivers entering the zone
- Lack of clear lane markings or detours
- Poorly lit or unmarked construction areas
- Inexperienced flaggers or supervisors
- Defective safety equipment
- Failure to comply with OSHA and DOT regulations
- Lack of fall protection
- Poor crane Safety
- Poorly maintained machines
- Improper hazard communication
- OSHA Fall Safety Violation
- Lack of barriers or signage
- Lack of worker training
- Fatigued Worker Accidents
- Poor lighting or visibility
Inadequate safety measures are rightly blamed in many accidents within work zones. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has repeatedly addressed concerns of poor visibility around large construction equipment, because of the large blind spots that limit the visibility of pedestrian workers in work zones.
Attorneys contend that road construction crew members may be victims of poor site design and negligent management. Frequent Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) violations occur in bridge, tunnel, highway and road construction work zones.
Workers in road work zones are extremely vulnerable. According to statistics compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2003 and 2015, upwards of 1,500 workers died at road construction sites.
Work Zone Accidents & Cause of Fatalities
- Runovers or backovers of pedestrian worker
- Vehicle and Mobile Equipment collision
- Workers caught in between or struck by equipment
- Passing vehicle negligence
Driver safety precautions can reduce the number of injuries and deaths in work zones. Drivers are urged to obey posted speed limits, yield to workers and machinery, follow construction signage and caution signals, give construction vehicles a large berth, and remain alert for any workers on or near the roadway. Work zone injuries caused by motorists’ driver error is often linked to the following:
- Speeding
- Drug and alcohol use
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
Lyon Firm Results: Construction Injury Settlement
Berry Smith v. Argo Construction: Joe Lyon served as Co-Lead Counsel in a work injury case involving the catastrophic amputation of the Plaintiffs leg when he was trapped under a moving excavator while performing flagging duties. Confidential settlement following full discovery and expert reports on life care plans. At the time, it was the largest known employer intentional tort settlement in county history.
Legal Options for Victims
After a work zone accident, several forms of compensation may be available:
- Workers’ compensation for injured employees
- Personal injury lawsuits against negligent third parties or drivers
- Product liability actions for faulty machinery or safety equipment
- Wrongful death lawsuits for families of deceased victims
Because every situation is unique, prompt legal consultation is essential to preserve evidence and meet filing deadlines.
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Establishing Liability
Liability in work zone crashes depends on who failed to ensure safety. Responsible parties may include:
- Construction contractors or site managers who ignored safety plans
- Government agencies that failed to provide adequate warnings or road design
- Drivers who acted recklessly or violated speed restrictions
- Equipment manufacturers if defective machinery contributed to the injury
Questions about Work Zone Injury Cases
Rear end collisions as well as construction-related accidents.
Workers are very likely to suffer serious injuries or death if they are struck by a passing vehicle or struck by heavy equipment.
Any kind of negligence by an individual or company that causes injury or harm can lead to filing a personal injury lawsuit. The amount a plaintiff is entitled to depends on several factors, particularly how egregious the act and how serious the injury.
Personal injury attorneys generally only will take cases on a confidential and contingency fee basis, which means your lawyer will only get paid if he or she is able to reach a settlement or positive verdict. The Lyon Firm will review your case for free and assess what compensation any plaintiff can expect through litigation.
Personal Injury cases can range from minor auto accidents to complex lawsuits filed against large corporations. The Lyon Firm has handled both with equal care.
Pre-Suit Investigation and Negotiations: Personal injury lawsuits are unique and require a thorough investigation before a lawsuit is filed. An initial investigation involves gathering all relevant medical records, accident reports, and interviews with available witnesses. Preservation letters are drafted to notify the defendant of the case. The duty to preserve electronic evidence is critical in most cases to prevent spoliation.
Filing a Lawsuit in Cincinnati: If pre-suit negotiations are unsuccessful, then a lawsuit must be filed to preserve the statute of limitations. Filing a lawsuit early in the process is often necessary to begin gathering evidence while the witnesses memories are fresh and documents remain available.
Proving Negligence, Causation and Damages: In addition to lay witness testimony and other documentary evidence, personal injury claims rely upon medical and scientific evidence to prove negligence, causation and damages. The chosen expert in a case must have a reliable and sound basis in science and in the facts of the case or his opinion may not be admissible under the rules of evidence.
Each state will vary. Under Ohio law, an injured party may recover damages related to medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, loss of enjoyment of life, past pain and suffering, future pain and suffering, and punitive damages. The numerical limits are as such:
- Non-Catastrophic Injury: The non-economic award is limited to $250,000 per plaintiff, or three times the economic loss, up to $350,000 per plaintiff. A maximum of $500,000 for each “occurrence.”
- Catastrophic Injury: No limits.
The Lyon Firm may be able to file injury claims and recover rightful compensation for clients for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost earnings and long-term disability.
The Lyon Firm represents workers, drivers, and pedestrians injured in construction and roadway accidents nationwide. Our attorneys have decades of experience uncovering negligence, coordinating expert testimony, and achieving substantial verdicts and settlements.
The Lyon Firm offers:
- In-depth understanding of transportation and construction law
- Individualized attention and compassionate counsel
- No-fee representation unless compensation is recovered
- Proven results against large corporations and government agencies
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Taking the first step doesn’t have to be complicated. In just a few minutes, you can share the basics of your case, and our team will guide you from there:
- It begins with a few simple questions about your situation.
- From there, a member of our legal team reviews your case.
- Together, we’ll chart the path forward, helping you take the next step toward resolution.
