Work Zone Accidents

As drivers throughout South Florida are all too aware, construction is a constant presence on our roads and highways. Although it is necessary and beneficial to maintain and improve our roads, work zones are also dangerous for drivers, pedestrians, and workers. Some of the most catastrophic, and sometimes fatal, accidents occur in these areas, and depending on the circumstances, many different parties may be responsible for the unsafe environment. The car crash attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon represent Miami residents and others throughout South Florida who have been hurt in an accident in a work zone. Assisting injured individuals in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties, we are dedicated to asserting their rights against those responsible for harming them.

In 2012, Florida ranked second behind Texas among the states with the most motor vehicle collision fatalities in work zones. These areas are not only dangerous for workers, but often motorists who have to navigate through signs and objects as well as confusing lane changes. Many factors can contribute to a work zone accident, including:

• Improper or faulty signs or markers;
• Defective paving, such as a drop off in the surface;
• Improper maintenance of traffic by highway engineers who failed to make a proper plan for moving vehicles through the work zone; or
• Failure of a construction project to comply with federal, state, or local regulations.

Because of the possibility that multiple parties may be responsible for a work zone crash, an accident reconstructionist as well as other experts may be necessary to determine liability.

An injured victim, or plaintiff, usually tries to show that a defendant or defendants acted negligently in causing a car accident. To prove negligence, a plaintiff must start by showing that he or she was owed a duty of care by the defendant, and that this duty was breached by the defendant’s action, or inaction. For instance, if a construction company, or its worker, put out faulty signs that guided a vehicle the wrong way and therefore into a dangerous area, causing a crash, the construction company can potentially be held liable. The victim must also show that the breach caused his or her injuries, and that actual damages resulted from the accident.

After establishing liability, injured individuals can seek to recover damages such as past and future medical expenses, loss of income, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering. In the devastating event that a loved one has lost his or her life in a work zone accident, moreover, certain relatives may file a wrongful death lawsuit against any parties that may be responsible. Under these circumstances, a family member may seek damages for burial and funeral expenses as well as loss of consortium.

Timing is important in both personal injury and wrongful death claims. For the former, in Florida, a victim has four years from the date of the accident to file suit, while wrongful death claims must be pursued within two years.

If you have been injured near Miami in a motor vehicle collision caused by someone else, the injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help you pursue the compensation to which you may be entitled. We are dedicated to providing our clients with compassionate and experienced legal services. Call 877.499.4878 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation about your case.