Construction Zone Car Accidents

Roadway construction is a fairly common occurrence, especially in big cities, like Chicago, where construction zones are a typical element in a driver’s daily commute. In order to protect drivers and minimize the changes of potential accidents around construction zones, there are a number of specific regulations in place regarding how construction zone sites are supposed to be set up and maintained. Despite these requirements, however, various factors can cause these construction zones to be poorly established and inadequately maintained, both of which can, unfortunately, increase the risk of traffic accidents.

Causes of Construction Zone Car Accidents

Some of the specific causes of construction zone car accidents may include (but are not limited to):

• Construction equipment, vehicles or other debris in the roadway
• Construction zone barriers not being placed in appropriate locations (or a complete lack of these barriers to shield the work from passing motorcyclists and other drivers)
• Excessive gravel or pooling liquids in the road due to spill off from the construction zone
• Insufficient of warning signs right before or within the construction zone
• Lack of or insufficient roadway shoulders for cars to pull off on in the event a vehicle breaks down
• Poorly or improperly marked temporary lanes or detours
• Inadequately trained or inexperienced construction workers operating equipment or attempting to guide traffic
• The negligence or recklessness of other drivers when passing through construction zones (Examples of such reckless behavior by other drivers can include speeding, failing to yield to right-of-way laws or cutting of others on the road.)

When the negligence or recklessness of some party contributes to construction zone car accidents, those who can be held legally accountable for these collisions and the resulting injuries can include:

• Another reckless driver on the road
• The city or county government agency who commissioned the work and hired the contractors (particularly if the hired contractors are not sufficiently experienced)
• The Illinois Department of Transportation
• The contractors and construction workers performing the construction work.

At the law firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C., our experienced Mount Vernon car accident lawyers have been providing client-centered representation to our Southern Illinois clients since 1950. Our trusted attorneys focus on our clients’ needs, and we do everything we can to help them get the maximum possible compensation for their injuries so they can focus on recovery and moving on with their life. If you or a loved one has sustained any type of injury due to a car accident that took place in a construction zone, contact us by calling  (800)-553-3125 for a free, thorough assessment of your case, along with professional advice regarding the best manner in which to move forward.