Work zones are dangerous places for both drivers and road crews. Between narrower lanes, changing traffic patterns, roadway obstacles, confusing or missing signage, and distracted driving, it is easy to see why work zone accidents have been on a steady rise nationally since 2013. While Illinois has seen a slight decrease in statewide work zone accidents, roadwork and the risk for injuries and/or fatalities will never completely disappear.
Work Zone Definition
The State of Illinois Department of Transportation defines a work zone as:
“An area of a trafficway (right-of-way line to right-of-way line) where construction, maintenance or utility work activities are identified by warning signs, signals or indicators, including those on transport devices that mark the beginning and end of a construction, maintenance or utility work activity.
It extends from the first warning sign, signal or flashing lights to the END ROAD WORK sign or the last traffic control device pertinent to that work activity. Work zones also include roadway sections where there is ongoing, moving work activity, such as lane line painting or roadside mowing, only if the beginning of the ongoing, moving work activity is designated by warning signs or signals.
A work zone crash is a motor vehicle traffic crash in which the first harmful event occurs within the boundaries of a work zone or the approach to or exit from a work zone, resulting in activity, behavior or control related to the movement of the traffic units through the work zone.”
Who is Affected by Work Zone Accidents
Work zone accidents, which occur every 5.4 minutes on average, can affect not only drivers, but also passengers, pedestrians, and construction workers. In 2015, the National Highway Administration found the breakdown of work zone accident crash severity as follows:
- 73% of work zone accidents were property damage only
- 26.4% of work zone accidents involved at least one injury
- 0.7% of work zone accidents involved at least one fatality
If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to Work Zone Accidents, contact America’s Consumer Lawyer for a free consultation. Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems.
With years of experience successfully representing the people and not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, and your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal.
We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.
Lastly, America’s Consumer Lawyer is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.
