For 2024, National Work Zone Awareness Week will be held April 15–19. This annual spring event is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and its partners to help bring attention to motorist, cyclist, pedestrian, and worker safety issues that can occur in and around work zones.
Our team at Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys shares the following information with you to help reduce you and your loved one’s chances of being injured in work zone accidents.
How to Detour Away from Work Zone Accidents
According to the FHWA, 1 work zone fatality occurs for every 4-billion vehicle-miles of travel and for every $112 million worth of roadway construction expenditures in the United States.
One of the best ways to avoid being injured in a work zone is to steer clear of them altogether.
- Be prepared for sudden stops
- Don’t drive fatigued
- Look up the latest traffic conditions on the route you plan to take before you travel
- Minimize driving distractions so that you remain alert
- Look out for workers and stopped vehicles
- Check your speed and maintain a safe following distance from other vehicles
- Be careful around large trucks or buses and look out for construction vehicles
- Read the signs and stay within designated lanes
When that is not an option, keep the following tips in mind if you must approach a work zone:
Work Zone Accidents and Injuries
You may be surprised to learn that road workers are not the most commonly harmed, or killed, in highway work zone accidents. In fact, four out of five people killed in a highway work zone are drivers and passengers. These types of fatal traffic crashes also occur more in the summer and fall.
Other less fatal, but common, work zone crashes include:
- Rear-end crashes
- Pedestrian slip, trip, and fall injuries
- Bicycle accidents
Now that you know more about the different types of accidents that most commonly occur around construction activity, let’s dive into different types of personal injuries that may result from an accident in a work zone.
- Nerve damage
- PTSD
- Paralysis
- Soft tissue injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash
Compensation Recovered for Work Zone Accidents
The amount of required medical care, missed work , and overall loss of enjoyment of life depends on the severity of injuries suffered. One of your better options to help ensure that you receive just compensation for injuries and other damages is to consult with a local personal injury lawyer.
They can advise you on your legal options, will have access to key resources to help prove fault and build a strong case, and the know-how to effectively handle insurance companies to ensure that you get the most fair and highest compensation possible.
Related article: Should I Get an Attorney After a Car Accident?
How to Find a Local Work Zone Accident Lawyer
At Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys, we have personal injury law offices located across the country in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Tennessee, Indiana, and Illinois. Members of our highly skilled and knowledgeable legal team are also licensed to practice in Washington, Oregon, Michigan, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts. And if you are injured in a state not listed above, we can assist you in finding local legal representation.
Just know that if you or a loved one is injured in a work zone accident, we are here to help you when you need it most. Call us at 844-977-1900, chat with a live representative or share more details about your accident via an online form, 24/7! Consultations are free and you do not pay any legal fees unless money is won on your behalf.