Chicago Construction Zone Accidents
In the Chicago area, there are hundreds of proposed or ongoing road construction, maintenance, repaving, and street improvement projects throughout the city—so many that there’s now an infrastructure map called ChiStreetWork to help residents track road repairs and avoid road closures on their commutes.
But despite these efforts, there were still an average of 5,114 construction zone accidents in Illinois every year between 2014 and 2018, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). As a result, almost 1,400 people were injured each year.
If you or a loved one has been injured in one of these Chicago construction zone accidents, you’re not alone. Find out more about your rights to compensation after an accident from the personal injury lawyers at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys.
Common Causes of Chicago Construction Zone Accidents
Many factors can contribute to work zone crashes. When drivers fail to pay attention, don’t reduce their speed, or fall victim to their own impatience, Chicago car accidents are much more likely. That being said, even a good driver may become disoriented by unclear signage. Here are the most common causes of Chicago work zone accidents:
- Distracted driving is a major problem not only in Illinois, but throughout the entire U.S. Drivers who are looking at or talking on their cell phone, fiddling with GPS, putting on makeup, eating, or otherwise trying to multitask are much more likely to cause a crash when they are in a work zone.
- Speeding is also a contributing factor to many construction zone accidents. When drivers don’t take the time to slow down or properly read work zone signage, they put everyone around them at risk of an accident.
- Narrowed lanes and bottlenecked traffic, in conjunction with driver negligence, can increase the risk of being involved in a car, bike, or even a pedestrian accident. Failure to yield, or trying to cut in front of other merging vehicles as lanes narrow, can easily result in sideswipe accidents.
- Misleading or missing work zone signage or traffic barriers can also confuse drivers and lead to a collision with another vehicle or maintenance worker.
- Stop and go traffic and poor visibility often lead to rear-end accidents, especially when drivers are also speeding or not paying attention. If construction makes it impossible to see traffic stopped ahead of you and other drivers are not adhering to the speed limit, accidents are bound to happen.
Establishing Who Was at Fault in a Work Zone Crash
In any accident case, determining who is liable for the crash and any subsequent injuries is crucial. If you were involved in a car, pedestrian, or bicycle accident in a construction zone, there may be multiple vehicles and victims involved, and it may not always be immediately clear who caused the accident.
Because construction zone accidents are often chain-reaction collisions, trying to figure out which actions led to which outcomes (and which person, car insurance carrier, construction company, or government entity should pay for your damages) can be overwhelming. In Illinois, more than one person or company may be found to be partially at fault through the legal principle of comparative negligence. Potentially liable parties may include:
- Other motorists (including large trucks and motorcyclists) who acted carelessly or recklessly by speeding, driving distracted, driving under the influence, etc.
- Construction companies or workers who failed to erect adequate signage, left hazardous equipment or debris on the roadway, or incorrectly guided traffic
- State or local governments, contractors, or subcontractors responsible for ensuring the safety of the construction zone
How a Construction Zone Accident Lawyer Can Help
While hiring an attorney may not be necessary in construction zone accident cases that result in little to no injury or property damage, many people may benefit from having an experienced personal injury attorney review the details of their case.
Ensuring that you receive a fair settlement is especially important after sustaining catastrophic injuries such as a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, or severe burn injuries. Your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life likely entitle you to a much bigger settlement than any insurance company will offer on their own. And in cases of wrongful death, you may also be eligible for compensation for end of life care, funeral expenses, and loss of consortium. As one of the leading personal injury firms in the Chicago area, our team of legal professionals will fight for your right to the maximum compensation after suffering a personal injury.
To connect with a Chicago construction zone accident lawyer, call us 24/7 at 708-222-2222. We also offer immediate virtual assistance through our LiveChat service, or you can request your free consultation online by filling out this simple form. The call is free, the consultation is free, and we don’t charge you a penny unless we win your case—that’s our no fee promise.