Construction Zone Car Accidents: Who's Liable?

Have you been injured in a car accident in a construction zone? If so, you may be wondering who you can hold responsible for what you’ve suffered. Is the driver who hit you to blame? What about the construction company that set up a confusing detour or lane adjustment? Depending on the circumstances, various parties may be liable for your injuries, but determining who those liable parties are and how much they might owe you requires the help of an experienced construction zone accident attorney.

Our New York City personal injury attorneys have recovered over $1 billion for victims of personal injury, and we’re ready to fight for the justice you deserve.

Common Causes of Auto Accidents in Highway Construction Zones

Some of the most frequent causes of car crashes into construction sites include:

• Changing lanes where prohibited
• Distracted driving
• Driver inexperience
• Drunk driving
• Drowsy/fatigued driving
• Insufficient signage to mark changed or temporary traffic patterns in the construction zone
• Poor road conditions, including broken pavement, construction debris, or unfinished road surfaces
• Speeding or driving too fast for road, weather, visibility, or traffic conditions
• Tailgating/following too closely
• Turning or changing lanes without signaling or checking mirrors

Injuries Suffered in Construction Zone Crashes

Some of the most common injuries victims suffer in construction zone accidents include:

• Amputation or limb loss
• Broken bones
• Degloving injuries
• Dislocated joints
• Herniated spinal disc injuries
• Internal organ injuries and internal bleeding
• Lacerations, abrasions, and permanent scarring
• Ligament sprains and tears
• Muscle/tendon strains and tears
• Nerve damage
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Brain injuries
• Whiplash

What To Do After a Car Accident in a Construction Site

Doing the following after a construction zone accident can help you best position yourself for a successful claim against the responsible party:

• Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and recovery instructions for your injuries.
• Take photographs and videos of the scene of the accident and the vehicles involved in the accident, including any construction signs, equipment, and materials in or near the roadway.
• Obtain a copy of the police crash report if law enforcement responded to the accident scene.
• Request copies of medical records of your treatment and rehabilitation.
• Report the accident to your car insurance company to obtain personal injury protection benefits to help pay for medical care and lost wages.
• Keep copies of any bills, invoices, or receipts of expenses you incur due to the accident, such as medical care, car repairs, or alternative transportation costs.
• Gather your pay stubs or income statements to help determine your lost income/wages if you take time off work or take a less well-paying position while you heal.

Finally, contact a New York City car accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your options for financial recovery and the next steps you can take to pursue your legal claims.

Liability in New York Construction Zone Car Accidents

Different parties may bear responsibility for a construction zone accident, depending on the circumstances or causes of the crash. For example, a driver who causes an accident due to negligent or reckless driving may bear responsibility for the injuries and losses you suffer.

However, sometimes the construction company is to blame for these accidents. A construction company may be to blame if it left equipment or materials in the path of traffic, damaged the road surface to the point it was unsafe to drive on, or neglected to place warning signs or road markings to indicate altered traffic patterns.

A state or municipal transportation agency may also bear fault for a construction zone car accident if it failed in its responsibility to install warning signs or road markings to alert drivers of any temporary changes that could affect their safety. If the construction paths or signage are unclear, the parties who created them could be liable for collisions that result from the confusion.

An experienced construction zone accident attorney can perform a full investigation to determine if the construction company, construction workers, or a government agency is responsible for the crash.

Damages Awarded in New York Construction Zone Crash Cases

If someone else caused the construction zone crash that injured you, you can demand that they compensate you for all that you suffered as a consequence. This might include money for:

• Any loss of future earning ability and employment benefits if you become permanently disabled from your job and other types of work
• The cost of repairs to your car or reimbursement of your car’s cash value if totaled in the crash
• The cost of long-term care you need for prolonged or permanent disabilities caused by your injuries
• Emotional trauma or distress, including lost enjoyment/quality of life caused by disabilities or disfigurement
• Physical pain and anguish
• Your loss of wages/income if you cannot work or earn as much as you did before the accident
• Your medical treatment and rehabilitation of your injuries, including emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, prescriptions/pain management care, or physical and occupational therapy

Talk to an Experienced Auto Accident Attorney in New York Today for Legal Help

Under New York’s statute of limitations, you typically have three years to file a lawsuit to recover compensation after sustaining injuries and property damage in a car crash in a construction zone. However, for an accident claim against the government, the law requires you to provide written notice of your claim within 90 days of the crash. As such, you should not wait to talk to an experienced auto accident attorney about pursuing your claims. Otherwise, you risk filing a lawsuit after the limitations period has expired on your claim and losing the opportunity to demand compensation from the driver or other parties at fault for the crash.

For 40 years, the attorneys of Finz & Finz, P.C. have worked tirelessly to secure maximum financial recovery for accident victims throughout New York, recovering over $1 billion for our clients in that time. Our team of accomplished litigators includes former judges, a skilled support staff, and a bench of industry-leading experts who help our attorneys prepare innovative legal strategies to fight for our clients’ rights.

So, if you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident in a construction zone, you know just where to turn for help seeking compensation and accountability from those at fault for the crash. Contact Finz & Finz, P.C. today for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal options with our nationally recognized car accident attorneys.