Learn about your options for seeking compensation after an accident in a work zone
Every year, an estimated 100,000 car accidents take place in work zones on America’s roadways. This is despite the fact that many work zones come with abundant signage warning motorists to use care and advising of increased fines for speeding and other infractions.
The fact of the matter is, work zones can be dangerous—both for drivers and for workers. Fortunately, with help from an experienced attorney, victims can get compensation.
Compensation for Injured Vehicle Occupants
The congestion that comes along with road construction, resurfacing, bridge repair, and other types of road work create conditions that are conducive to accidents. One of the biggest problems is that drivers have a tendency to tailgate in construction zones. This can cause accidents even if the drivers have slowed down to obey the posted speed limit in the work zone. With less space between vehicles, rear-end accidents are more likely. Distracted driving also causes accidents, especially in work zones with lane restrictions or missing shoulders where drivers have less room for error before they would hit a road divider, swerve into traffic, or run off the road. Work zone accidents can also occur when drivers fail to yield the right of way or fail to obey instructions from workers or signs.
In the case of multi-vehicle accidents, one person’s mistakes can result in injuries to many other vehicle occupants. Those injured individuals can and should seek compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. This compensation can include:
- Past and future medical costs
- Property damage
- Lost income
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
Compensation for Injured Workers
When workers are injured in work zones, they may have two possible options for seeking compensation. First of all, they can file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation is available to all employees. As long as the employee didn’t harm themselves on purpose, there is no need to prove who caused the injury.
If a worker was injured by the recklessness or negligence of a driver passing through the work zone, they can choose to file a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury claim against the driver. A personal injury claim will require the worker to prove that the driver caused the accident. However, the advantage is that personal injury claims can potentially result in larger monetary awards, because personal injury claims allow injured victims to collect compensation for pain and suffering, whereas workers’ compensation claims do not.
Have You Been Injured in a Work Zone?
If you have been injured in a work zone and you want to make sure you receive maximum compensation, you need to consult an attorney for a full explanation of your rights and expert assistance preparing your claim. The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker makes an excellent choice of firm whether you are a motorist or a road worker, since we have both car accident injury attorneys and workers’ compensation attorneys on our team. Call 800-333-0000 now for a free initial consultation.
