You don’t have to drive on local roads for long before you encounter major highway construction projects. The construction on interstates and smaller roads seems unending in many places, especially in bustling South Florida. Construction might ultimately increase roadway safety, but it can make highways more dangerous in the meantime. If you or someone in your family recently experienced a car accident while driving through a construction site, come to the David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A. and speak to one of our Fort Lauderdale construction zone car accident lawyers for a free consultation about your eligibility for compensation.
Construction Zone Crashes and Negligence
The very nature of a construction zone makes it dangerous for drivers. Decaying roadways, brand new asphalt, construction cones, narrow lanes, speed adjustments, machinery, workers on the sides of the roads, and sudden or confusing route changes can all cause traffic accidents. It is the responsibility of the construction site manager to make sure the zone is as safe for drivers as possible.
Construction Zone Safety Can Mean:
- Erecting warning signs that there is work ahead or workers present
- Creating safe lane changes and detours
- Clearing roads of construction debris
- Keeping heavy machinery and equipment out of the roadway
- Lowering the speed limit in construction zones
- Warning drivers about uneven shoulders, narrow lanes, etc.
Failure to take reasonable steps to optimize the safety of construction zones, resulting in injuries, is negligence. To have a claim for negligence, injured plaintiffs will need to prove the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care, neglected this duty, the neglect caused the car accident, and he/she suffered injuries or property damage as a result. The lawyers at David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A. can help clients in Fort Lauderdale prove fault for construction zone accidents and negotiate for maximum compensation.
Who Is Liable for a Crash in a Construction Zone?
One of the main questions you might have after an incident involving a roadway construction zone is, “Who is at fault for my crash?” Our lawyers have answered this question for hundreds of clients in the last 30 years and can do the same for you. We can listen to your story of what happened, investigate the collision, and help you determine the liable party or parties. This could be many entities or a combination of parties, such as the:
- Construction site manager or overseer. This person makes sure workers obey safety laws and maintain as safe a site as possible for employees, drivers, and pedestrians.
- Construction company. If a worker is guilty of leaving a piece of equipment on the road or otherwise creating a hazard for drivers, the construction company will likely be liable. The company could also be at fault if it contributed to the crash itself.
- The government. In some cases, the Florida or Fort Lauderdale government could bear liability. For example, if there is lack of adequate warning signs alerting drivers to possible dangers that the government should have put up, victims may have a case against the city, county, or state.
The government is responsible for roadways and repair efforts, so it could be vicariously liable for the negligence of a construction crew or site manager. For more information about your specific construction zone accident case, request a free consultation at our Fort Lauderdale law firm.
