Construction Zone Accidents

Road or highway construction zones are more than an inconvenience to drivers rushing to drop off their children or get to work on time. Every year, some North Carolina drivers suffer injuries or even death in collisions that occur in road construction zones. If a large commercial vehicle is present at the road construction zone or the roads have large potholes or openings, the risk of injury increases. The commercial vehicle drivers commissioned to work at the construction zone owe other drivers a duty of reasonable care. If a driver's negligence resulted in a motor vehicle collision that caused injuries, you might be entitled to compensation.

At Arnold & Smith, PLLC our skilled Charlotte personal injury attorneys help clients injured in car accidents seek legal and financial recourse. When another driver negligently causes a motor vehicle accident, those injured can seek compensation, such as:

• Compensation for lost past and future wages
• Compensation for medical bills and physical therapy costs
• Compensation for pain and suffering
• Compensation for wrongful death damages if the construction zone accident resulted in the death of a loved one

If you have suffered an injury in the North Carolina construction zone accident, it is vital to contact a skilled Charlotte personal injury attorney as soon as possible. North Carolina has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. Those who have suffered an injury as a result of a motor vehicle accident must file a lawsuit within three years, or they will lose the ability to file the suit.

Construction zones are usually well-lit and marked with signs and signals indicating how the driver should proceed. Even when construction zones are marked well by the city of locality conducting the road work, many drivers disregard the signs. Some drivers see the signs and choose to ignore them. Other drivers may not see the signs due to distracted driving or a lack of focus on the road.

If a truck driver or a commercial vehicle driver is present at the construction scene, he or she may not have as much time to react to an oncoming vehicle safely. When a car or truck driver swerves into a commercial driver, the commercial driver may cause a collision due to not having enough time to react safely. Construction sites usually indicate that drivers must significantly reduce their speed. When drivers continue to use excessive speed, they increase the risk of colliding with work equipment, construction workers themselves, or other drivers.

If a city or municipality failed to use signs telling drivers to reduce their speed or failed to advise them of dangerous road conditions, the city or town might be at fault for a motor vehicle accident. When a city fails to post signage telling drivers to slow down, their negligence might result in motor vehicle collisions. Our attorneys can assist you in determining whether the city or municipality might share fault in a motor vehicle accident that caused your injuries.

Distracted driving rates are high across the United States. When distracted drivers drive through construction zones, they increase the likelihood of a crash taking place. Types of distracted driving include the following:

• Texting while driving
• Eating or drinking while driving
• Holding an electronic device while driving
• Operating a GPS navigational system while driving
• Negligently talking to passengers while driving

Distracted driving is particularly dangerous in construction zones. Many times, large commercial vehicles such as cement trucks drive to and from construction sites. Colliding with a large commercial vehicle can cause explosions and significant injury or even death to other drivers and passengers. Some commercial vehicles used in construction move exceptionally slowly. If a distracted driver does not see a car driving in his or her lane, the distracted driver can cause a head-on collision.

Distracted or unfocused drivers may not merge properly in a construction zone. Typically, drivers must merge into a single lane in construction zones. If drivers wait until the last minute to merge or the merge while using excessive speed, they increase the risk of colliding with another driver. If a smaller car merges too quickly in front of a commercial truck, the trust may not have adequate time to stop.

If you have suffered an injury in an accident that occurred in a construction zone, the skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC can help. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation at one of our North Carolina law offices, conveniently located in Mooresville, Monroe and Uptown Charlotte.