Road construction brings a significant amount of danger with it, including car accidents.
Though road construction is often necessary, it comes with its frustrations. Among the most prominent of them is car accidents. If you ever find yourself in a construction site collision, it’s generally a good idea to get in touch with an experienced St. Louis auto accident attorney for assistance. That being said, educating yourself on the subject may help keep you out of harm’s way entirely. Below, we help you do so by explaining types of accidents, common causes, avoidance tips, and legality associated with construction site accidents.
Types of Accidents
Though many accidents can occur in a construction zone, a few happen more frequently.
Pedestrian – A driver may be traveling too fast in a construction zone and hit one of the workers. Additionally, when construction closes roads, it typically closes bike lanes as well. When bikes have to merge with cars, they are sometimes struck. Both of these situations will likely lead to the driver needing to pay benefits.
Sideswipe – As with bikers, cars may collide with each other near construction sites. The reason is that the workers often cut off an entire lane, which forces every car in it to merge. This maneuver can go wrong, and a vehicle can sideswipe another.
Rear-End Collisions – Another thing that often happens near sites is a sudden slowing of traffic. If the driver behind you is not paying attention in this situation, they are likely to rear-end you.
Common Causes
The most common causes of these accidents are closed lanes, poor traffic directing, improper signage, distraction, and aggression.
Avoidance
The best thing you can do to avoid these accidents is to drive slowly and defensively. There is a lot more going on when there is road construction, which means there are more factors for you to worry about. Traffic could stop quickly in front of you, a person could start to change lanes into you, or any other dangerous situation could present itself. When you drive at low speeds and keep your attention up, you can react to possible dangers quickly.
Legal Complications and Liability
What makes these cases so complicated is that the construction company is often involved. When they are not, things may be a little more straightforward. For example, if you were slowing down for the construction zone and the car behind you rear-ended you, they alone will likely be held liable. A more complicated scenario would be if a construction worker caused an accident by directing traffic poorly. In this case, the construction company could be found partially liable.
Road construction brings a significant amount of danger with it, but if you drive responsibly, you increase your chances of avoiding an accident. Still, a collision may be unavoidable. If this is the case, it is a good idea to speak with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney. They can assess the situation and help you come to a conclusion about the potentially complex liability situation.
Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer
Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!