Nearly a year after one of the deadliest work-zone accidents in history, another deadly work-zone accident claims the lives of six construction workers in Maryland as they worked to fix the roads of the Francis Scott Key bridge.
As safety officials continue to investigate what all went wrong in the bridge accident, and what we can do to better protect our nation’s construction workers and road crews, we wanted to take a closer look at the dangers facing these workers.
Each year, nearly 20,000 workers are injured in road construction work zones. And, over the past two decades, nearly 2,500 workers lost their lives on road construction sites- an average of 123 fatalities per year.
While the number of road projects contribute to fatalities, there are a number of other factors that can lead to injuries. Let’s take a look.
Common Causes of a Work Zone Accident
Most often, accidents in construction areas are caused by negligent drivers who are following too closely behind another vehicle and who fail to see the warning signs of “road work ahead.” Those same drivers often fail to notice lanes are closed or that there is a change in the flow of traffic ahead.
Speeding and distracted driving also lead to countless workers injured in a work zone accident.
Injuries to Construction Workers During Road Work
Some of the more common injuries for workers in road construction work zones include:
- Injuries from a contact with objects or other equipment (35%)
- Slips, trips, and falls (20%)
- Overexertion (15%)
- Transportation incidents (12%)
- Exposure to harmful substances or environments (5%)
Motorists Injured in a Construction Zone
It’s not always the roadside workers who suffer injuries in a work zone accident. There a plenty of instances where drivers of vehicles are injured as well.
Take for example, the driver that doesn’t notice traffic slowing for construction, who strikes another vehicle causing injuries to themselves or others.
If a construction company failed in its duties to properly warn drivers, and a driver ends up blowing a tire on uneven pavement or other construction debris left on the roadway, the company would be negligent.
Work Zone Accident Attorneys in York, Pa.
Bottom line- work zones can be extremely dangerous not only for the construction workers themselves, but also drivers. Determining liability in construction accidents can be difficult. Even though a driver may have been negligent by texting while driving, the construction company handling the job could also be negligent by not having proper warnings in place. In this circumstance, multiple parties could be liable.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a work zone accident, or if you’ve tragically lost a loved one in a road construction accident, you need to understand your rights. Our personal injury attorneys are available to answer your questions, 24/7, free of charge.
Simply give us a call at 717-846-0606, engage in a live chat via our website, or fill out one of the short forms found on each page. Our work zone accident attorneys will get right back to you to ensure you and your family are being fairly compensated for your losses and for your pain and suffering.