Construction Zone Truck Accidents

Construction zones pose a unique threat to both truckers and to workers at the site. There are a large number of catastrophic and fatal accidents that happen every year in road construction zones. When a large commercial vehicle is involved in an accident in a construction zone, the probability of suffering from a serious or life-threatening injury increases drastically.

If you or a loved one has been a victim of a construction zone truck accident due to no fault of your own, our attorneys may be able to help you with your claim. You could be eligible to pursue reimbursement of current and future medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and even wrongful death damages if the crash resulted in the death of a loved one.

To begin exploring your legal options, please contact our Alabama truck accident lawyers today by completing the Free Case Review form to the right.

 

Causes of Construction Zone Truck Accidents

Most construction zone truck accidents happen in the warmer months in spring and summer since these weather conditions are more conducive to working outdoors on Alabama roads and highways. Drivers who are more informed of the risks involved with driving in construction zones could significantly decrease the number of injuries and fatalities that result from this type of accident.

Some of the most common risks for any Alabama motorist, not just truck drivers, associated with construction zones include merging issues, distracted drivers, drivers who fail to obey temporary traffic construction signs and speeding.

 

Merging

Late lane merging or high-speed merging is a common cause of highway construction zone accidents. In construction zones, the width and number of lanes available are usually reduced from their normal size. Smaller cars that wait to merge until the last moment or that merge while speeding can often result in side-impact crashes or rear-end collisions. If a smaller car merges inadequately in front of a truck, the results can be devastating. Large trucks take much longer to brake than smaller passenger vehicles and failing to give a truck driver enough time to react could have dire consequences.

 

Distracted Drivers

Similar to large trucks, construction vehicles have massive blind spots and are difficult to maneuver in the event of an emergency situation. All Alabama motorists should remain alert and vigilant when driving through a construction zone. Most work zones have large, slow-moving construction equipment and machinery that can move into a driver’s path. Truck drivers are urged to use the size of their vehicle to look ahead and anticipate potentially dangerous situations involving construction equipment and other drivers in the work zone.

 

Disobeying Temporary Construction Signs, Traffic Directions or Caution Signals

Impatient or distracted drivers who disregard posted signs, traffic directions or caution signals pose a danger to themselves, construction workers and particularly to truck drivers. The unpredictable behavior of drivers of smaller passenger vehicles can force a trucker to respond quickly. Given the limited amount of space for a truck driver to maneuver in a construction zone, this often results in an accident. Signs serve as warnings or directions to drivers, advising them of upcoming road conditions or detours, so it is very important for drivers to follow these directions. If a construction zone lacks caution signals or traffic directions and an accident occurs, it is important to consult with an attorney to determine who or what is to blame for this oversight.

 

Speeding

Failing to obey the post speed limit in a work zone is the most common factor in truck accidents in construction zones. Traffic in construction zones is usually stop-and-go. Trucks require a much greater stopping distance than smaller cars, so drivers who misinterpret how much space they have to stop can often have devastating consequences for those in the truck’s path. Obeying the posted speed limit could drastically reduce the chances of this type of accident occurring.

 

Contact a Knowledgeable Construction Zone Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Construction zones in Mobile and Baldwin County require heightened awareness on behalf of anyone operating a motor vehicle in order to ensure the safety of everyone within the work zone. If you or a loved one has sustained an injury in a construction zone accident, we urge you to contact our attorneys to see how we may be able to help you with your claim.

At the Citrin Law Firm, our truck accident lawyers have the skills and resources necessary to successfully investigate and litigate a truck accident injury claim. It is important for injury victims to determine the cause of the crash in order to recover fair compensation for their losses. Any number of individuals and entities may be responsible for a construction zone truck crash, including the truck driver, the trucking company that employs the driver, the shipping company whose goods were being transported at the time of the accident, the owner of the truck, and the municipalities and private road contractors involved in the road construction.

We encourage you to begin exploring your legal options as soon as possible. Alabama has a strict statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim and failing to do so within a reasonable amount of time could significantly affect your ability to recover fair compensation for your condition.

To make sure that our clients are able to afford proper representation in their pursuit for justice, Citrin Law Firm operates on a contingency fee basis. This means that if you choose to hire our attorneys, we do not charge you any fees until we are able to successfully obtain a favorable outcome for your injury claim. If we fail obtain a jury verdict or settlement on your behalf, there is never any cost to you.

For more information on the legal rights which may be available to Alabama construction zone truck accident victims and their families or to schedule a confidential, no-obligation consultation with a member of our legal team, please complete the Free Case Review form on this page.