Repairing roads, building new structures, and creating new roadways are all a part of living in a growing area. In many cases, the population grows so quickly that a city’s infrastructure cannot keep up. In many construction zones, it can be confusing to navigate the temporary route that has been created. It is not uncommon for accidents to happen in these construction zones. However, who is liable for your injuries and the damage to your car if you are involved in an accident in a construction zone?
There are many different construction zone accident scenarios. For example, consider a situation in which you are traveling alongside other vehicles in a construction zone. A temporary reduced speed limit has been posted, and traffic cones line one of the lanes in the road. Another vehicle, its driver not paying attention, swerves and hits a traffic cone and then slams into your vehicle. In this scenario, the negligent driver would likely be liable for your accident. The other driver was not paying attention to the road and ultimately caused the accident.
Similarly, drivers must follow the guidelines that have been established for construction and roadwork zones. For example, in some situations, a solid line may be painted in between traffic lanes to show that passing is not allowed. If a car passes another car anyway, ignoring this rule, the passing car may be responsible if an accident happens.
In some cases, the contractors completing the work may be responsible for an accident. For example, if they leave a piece of equipment in the road, or if they have failed to properly rope off an area that is dangerous to drive through, the company in charge of the work may face liability if an accident happens and people are injured. Other examples including failing to properly mark lanes, failing to use adequate lighting during nighttime work, and failing to direct traffic properly during construction or roadwork.
If a victim prevails in a claim involving a construction zone accident, that victim may be entitled to a variety of damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- The cost of future medical expenses
- The expense involved with altering a home to accommodate an injury or handicap
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
The amount of damages available depends on the circumstances of the case. With the assistance of an experienced traffic accident attorney, accident victim significantly improve their chances of obtaining a favorable outcome in their cases. Traffic accident attorneys carefully study the facts of a case to determine all possible avenues of recovery that are available. If you have been involved in a car accident, you should seek legal counsel as soon as possible.
If you were injured in an accident, contact Stein & Shulman, LLC Today
Free, Instant Case Review – Call 312.422.0500
If you were injured in a vehicle accident in Illinois, contact Stein & Shulman, LLC, today to discuss your legal options with a skilled car accident attorney. You can schedule a case consultation at no cost to you by calling our office at 312.422.0500.
Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
312.422.0500
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