Victims Injured in Construction Zone Car Accidents in Springfield Should Call the Car Accident Lawyers at the Noll Law Office
One of the most dangerous areas of roadway are those that are under construction. According to statistics, each year in the United States almost 1,000 people are killed and over 42,000 people are injured in traffic accidents in construction zones. Such accidents occur in many different types of roadways, including construction zones, work zones, maintenance zones, and utility zones – all of which are characterized by the nature of the work being performed on or around the road. Even where zones are properly marked, illuminated, and flaggers are in place, there is still a chance for very serious or fatal accidents by drivers who become distracted by the work being performed. Victims who have suffered personal injuries in construction zone car accidents in Springfield should contact one of the experienced car accident lawyers at the Noll Law Office for help at (217) 414-8889.
Unlike other bodily injury law firms, the Noll Law Office handles their cases in-house and with personalized and dedicated representation. Their compassionate legal team does not farm cases out across Illinois, but rather handles cases locally and individually – not in a churn-and-burn manner. This means that victims and their families are treated as more than just a file number, but as a part of the Noll Law Office family. Indeed, they are fifth-generation lawyers who have been serving Springfield and Illinois by helping recover compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, and other damages. If you or a loved one were seriously injured in any type of motor vehicle accident in Illinois, especially any type of construction zone car accident in Springfield, call the Noll Law Office to schedule a FREE consultation.
Who Could be Injured in Construction Zone Car Accidents
There are many different people who could be seriously injured or wrongfully killed in construction zone car accidents in Springfield and throughout Illinois. Unfortunately, most of these injuries or wrongful deaths are caused by negligent conduct which was preventable. Some of the most commonly injured people include the following:
- Drivers
- Passengers
- Pedestrians
- Bicyclists
- Construction workers
- Law enforcement officers, and
- Other individuals working at a construction zone or work zone along a roadway.
Common Causes of Construction Zone Car Accidents in Springfield
There are many possible ways that construction zone car accidents in Springfield could occur. Unfortunately, many of these common ways are entirely preventable. That means victims who are injured in a work zone crash are often hurt by reckless, careless, and negligent conduct. The negligence could be caused by another driver or someone working in the construction zone. In either situation, victims who are hurt may be able to recover compensation for their losses.
Some of the most common causes of construction zone car accidents that could result in liability include the following:
Distracted Drivers
All motorists must exercise reasonable care in the use or operation of a motor vehicle. This includes paying attention to the surroundings and keeping a lookout for potential hazards or dangers. In a construction zone, there are many different ways that a driver could become distracted and fail to keep a proper lookout. This includes all of the common ways such as a cell phone, GPS, radio, eating, and other conduct, but it also includes risks that are inherent to work zones.
Indeed, work zones can be very distracting areas of roadway. Large vehicles and heavy machinery may cause drivers to look over at the work being performed because it is interesting and not something most people see every day. Other times there may be sparks flying from grinding or welding, water spraying, or other visual distractions that may pull a driver’s attention away. Sometimes, which is even worse, a driver may try to take a photo or video of work being performed while driving.
All of these different types of conduct, including many other types, are generally considered to be reckless, careless, and negligent when it results in a motor vehicle accident. Drivers who cause motor vehicle accidents in Illinois due to distractions in a work zone may be liable to a victim.
Special Rules for Road Worker Injuries in Illinois
Construction workers in a work zone could be injured or wrongfully killed in a motor vehicle accident. Generally, unlike other motorists, construction workers who are hurt have a more complex type of claim which requires a more experienced type of lawyer like one of those at the Noll Law Office. This is because an injured construction worker may have two separate claims.
These two separate claims include the following:
Workers’ Compensation
Under Illinois law, workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance program that covers individuals who suffer a work-related injury or illness. This means that fault or liability does not need to be proven to collect workers’ compensation benefits – only that the injury or illness was work-related.
Road workers injured in construction zone car accidents in Springfield will likely be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits to cover their medical bills, a portion of their lost wages, and compensation for permanent injuries or disabilities after reaching maximum medical improvement. As a result of this, workers’ compensation benefits are an exclusive remedy for workers, meaning that they cannot go after an employer or coworker who may have caused or contributed to their personal injuries.
Third-Party Claims
However, where a third-party injures a worker in a construction zone car accident, an injured worker may be entitled to recover compensation separately against that negligent party. This is known as a third-party claim and it is a very important type of claim because it allows an injured worker to possibly recover pain and suffering, which is not compensated under workers’ compensation laws.
In Illinois, a third-party may include the following:
- A negligent driver going through the work zone
- Contractors who are non-coworkers and not your employer
- Material delivery drivers
- Municipal workers who are assisting a construction crew (if working in private construction, or vice versa if working for the municipality)
- Bus or truck drivers
- Product manufacturers who sell defective objects which cause injuries, and
- Other third-parties who may be liable for a road worker’s serious injuries or wrongful death in Illinois.
Due to the fact that construction zone car accidents can be complicated, and the added layer of workers’ compensation for road workers, injured workers should call an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer for help like one of those at the Noll Law Office.
Construction Debris, Equipment, and Materials
Dangers in a construction zone such as debris, nails or screws, wood, piles of excavated rock or dirt, rebar, or other materials may create hazards on the roadway which could cause a car accident. This includes accidents such as slipping, falling or toppling over, blown tires, damage to braking systems, transmission damage, or other vehicle damage which could impair the way a motor vehicle is operated. Sometimes the damage done could be to the windshield and impair a motorist’s vision before he or she can safely stop, resulting in a crash.
In situations like this, the municipality that owns the road or authorized the roadwork and the contractor performing the work could be liable under Illinois law. Sometimes liability is obfuscated by contracts and indemnification agreements. This means that victims need to hire an experienced car accident lawyer in Springfield to weed through these liability shields and hold all defendants who are responsible for their negligent conduct.
Road Worker Liability
In addition to dangers created by rubbernecking and other driver’s conduct, due to municipal liability, or due to construction debris and equipment, the construction company could also be liable. Indeed, the work being performed could create a danger to motorists and result in construction zone car accidents in Springfield.
Some examples of how a road worker or construction company could be liable include the following:
- Crane counterweights turning into traffic
- Construction materials falling from overhead work (like on bridges or scaffolding)
- Holes or roadway damage
- Smoke causing dangerously limited visibility
- Excavation areas that are not properly supported or too close to vehicles that it collapses
- Trucks backing into traffic
- Too narrow lanes that cause vehicles to scrap
- Flaggers giving opposite signs and causing a crash, and
- Other dangers within the work area of a construction zone.
The Noll Law Office Represents Victims Hurt in All Types of Car Accidents in Springfield
Victims and their families who have suffered serious personal injuries that are catastrophic, disabling, permanent, or fatal should call the Noll Law Office. Their experienced car accident lawyers in Springfield have a proven track record of fighting back against defendants who cause preventable motor vehicle accidents and other personal injury accidents in Illinois. They offer FREE consultations and case evaluations, where their lawyer fees and litigation expenses are only paid after a recovery is made on your behalf.
To learn more about how their compassionate and dedicated legal team can help you, contact them today.