The Danger of Inattentive Drivers in Roadside Construction Sites

Road repair and construction takes place all over the state of Missouri. At times it may seem like an annoyance, but it is necessary in order to keep our roadways safe and functional. A certain amount of extra care on behalf of drivers needs to be taken in order to ensure not just the safety of the road workers, but also of other motorists. If you were in an accident while waiting at, or driving through, a construction site, consult a car accident attorney. The laws within a construction site differ from other traffic laws, and you will need help in applying those to your case in order to garner a fair settlement for your injuries.

Remain Attentive

In order to prevent collisions and accidents in a construction zone, it is imperative that drivers remain completely attentive to the road. Traffic patterns may change suddenly, and if a driver is not paying attention they will may miss the warning signs. Work zones account for over 40,000 injury causing accidents each year. The vast majority of those could have been avoided had the drivers attention not been diverted.

Experts overwhelmingly agree that the use of cell phones, either talking or texting, is one of the most dangerous activities affecting driver safety. When you couple that with a complex roadside construction site, there is bound to be some accidents. Just recently, the state of Wisconsin has recognized the severity of this problem and has proposed an overall ban on cell phone use while inside the limits of a construction zone. Their goal is to protect workers by reducing distracted drivers.

Missouri Accidents

While stopped in traffic, waiting at a road construction site, a Missouri motorist was hit from behind by a delivery truck. The deliveryman, distracted, missed all of the warning signs and collided with the car at full speed, causing massive brain trauma to the plaintiff that will affect her cognitive abilities for the remainder of her life. A $525,000 settlement was reached for the injured driver in this case.

There are some things you can do to avoid being involved in a work zone accident. Most importantly is to pay attention to all warning signs and heed to slowing down traffic. By reducing your speed slowly you are allowing yourself more time to stop suddenly, and avoid being hit from behind. Do not use this time to make a phone call or answer a text, there are many hazards inside construction zones as well as workers on foot, so you need to be vigilant at all times. Focus on the road ahead of you to avoid having to maneuver suddenly for a detour or lane diversion. Do not change lanes or tailgate. Everyone around you is stuck as well. Engaging in those activities will not get you out of the work zone quicker, and could cause an accident.

St. Louis Car Accident Lawyers

With the growing number of electronic gadgets at our disposal, it is no wonder that distracted driving has replaced speeding as the leading cause of construction zone accidents. If you were recently injured in a car accident in a work zone, contact a car accident lawyer at The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. right away. We can evaluate your case for free and help you determine what your legal options are.

Call (314) 361-4242 to schedule a free consultation.

photo credit: Lee Cannon via Flickr