Construction zones on North Carolina roads can be inconvenient for drivers – and they can also pose serious hazards. The delays, re-routing, and confusion are troublesome enough, but construction zones also create conditions that can lead to severe car wrecks.
If you get hurt in a construction zone crash, you could face lifelong pain and disabilities from catastrophic injuries that require extensive medical care. However, if someone else was at fault for the accident, you could have options for securing compensation for your losses.
Have you been hurt in a North Carolina construction zone car crash that wasn’t your fault? Turn to the experienced attorneys at Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC. We are ready to fight diligently to pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
Causes of Construction Zone Car Accidents in NC
More than 7,000 construction zone car crashes happened on North Carolina roads in a single recent year, resulting in more than 6,500 injuries, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
What is the most common collision in a work zone? Rear-end crashes are the most frequent crashes in construction zones, but construction zone crashes can happen in many different ways.
NCDOT notes that speeding and distracted driving are the root causes of more than half of construction zone accidents in the state. But these are just two of the most common causes of collisions in a work zone. Speeding can cause a driver to miss a detour or lane change, and distracted driving takes a driver’s focus, eyes, or hands off the task of driving, which can cause them to miss traffic events just ahead of them.
Common factors in collisions in highway work zones include:
- Speeding, distraction, and following too closely – Road construction zones often cause traffic jams. When drivers tailgate or get distracted, they can hit stopped or slowed traffic from behind as it approaches a work zone. Speeding can also contribute to rear-end collisions in work zones. Speeding can also lead drivers to lose control of their vehicles while navigating the lane shifts and turns common during road construction.
- Unclear detours – If the work crew is careless when setting up detours, or if the municipality doesn’t properly route drivers away from roads under construction, then drivers could inadvertently go the wrong way, straight into oncoming traffic. Or drivers might be routed through areas where a collision is more likely, such as around blind curves or areas where the road conditions are hazardous.
- Construction crew negligence – Motorists could be struck by a road crew operator who isn’t adequately trained to handle heavy machinery, or a falling object might hit a vehicle. Construction sites are notoriously dangerous, with uneven surfaces, noise, and dust that cause distractions or make it harder to see and hear other vehicles approaching. The presence of heavy equipment poses a threat to much smaller vehicles.
- Narrow lanes – Construction zones may have very narrow transit routes, making negotiating lanes of traffic more dangerous. The chances of a head-on collision or sideswipe are higher, as passing vehicles have less room for clearance.
Serious Injuries from Construction Zone Car Crashes in NC
Drivers and their passengers who are involved in a construction zone collision can suffer multiple serious injuries, leaving them permanently disabled. If you’re catastrophically injured in a construction zone crash, you may be unable to live independently, and you might be out of work for an extended period or unable to ever work again.
You and your passengers may experience severe injuries such as:
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Serious fractures that could require surgery and weeks of immobility
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding, which could result in sepsis if not treated promptly
- Neck and back injuries, like whiplash and herniated discs
- Spinal cord damage, including partial or total paralysis
- Crushing injuries
- Amputation
- Facial lacerations
- Hearing and vision loss
Proving Liability in Construction Zone Car Wrecks
To secure compensation after a construction zone accident, your attorney must prove that someone else was liable for the accident that caused your injuries. The at-fault party must be shown to have disregarded the safety of others through their actions. For example, it could be shown by proving they were speeding, using a cell phone while driving, or not handling the construction equipment properly, among other actions.
Liability and negligence can also result from inaction. For example, the construction crew may have failed to place adequate barriers around the work site or post sufficient warning signs in advance of the work zone.
Your lawyer can build a case against the other party using evidence such as photos of the scene, witness testimony, construction crew personnel training and safety records, expert accident reconstruction, and others. If the other party can be demonstrated to be liable for causing the crash, they can be held accountable for any losses you suffered in the accident.
Maximizing Compensation for NC Work Zone Car Accident Injuries
You can pursue compensation from the liable party for both your monetary losses and your intangible losses, referred to as economic and non-economic damages. Potential compensation in a work zone car crash claim could include payment for losses like the following examples:
- Medical bills for emergency room care, medications, surgery, and other treatments
- Rehabilitative care, like physical or occupational therapy
- Loss of income from time missed at work
- Loss of earning potential
- Emotional trauma from the wreck
- Pain and suffering from your injuries
- Disfigurement and changed abilities
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Why Hire Our North Carolina Construction Zone Car Accident Attorneys?
The NC construction zone car accident lawyers at Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, have the knowledge, experience, and determination to pursue justice even in the most complex cases. Our legal team has access to the resources needed to build the strongest possible case for maximum recovery. We are passionate about helping accident victims seek justice, and we fight to hold those responsible for their injuries accountable for their negligence.
Contact Our NC Work Zone Car Accident Lawyers Today
Do you need help pursuing recovery for your losses after a car accident in a North Carolina construction zone? We want to help you. The legal team at Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, offers a complimentary case review with an experienced car accident attorney. Contact the firm today to get started.
