What Should I Do After a Construction Zone Car Accident in Texas?
Accidents occur in construction zones regularly. Unfortunately, construction work on or near the roadway can lead to significant confusion, bottlenecked traffic, closed-off lanes, reduced speed limits, and more. Not only is this dangerous under ideal conditions, but construction work zone accidents are much more likely to occur when there are negligent drivers on the roadway. Additionally, there are times when the negligence of a road construction company or governmental agency responsible for the site causes these incidents. Here, we will discuss the steps you can take in the event of a car accident in a construction zone in Texas.
What Should I Do After a Construction Zone Accident?
If you have been involved in a construction zone crash in Texas, you should take the following steps to ensure that your rights are protected:
Seek medical care immediately. Regardless of how minor or severe the injuries are, you need to seek medical care immediately. Let a doctor evaluate your situation and determine any necessary treatment.
Ensure that law enforcement arrives at the scene of the crash. Law enforcement officials must respond to the scene of the crash to conduct a preliminary investigation and determine the cause of the accident and liability. You will need an official copy of the accident report for your insurance carrier.
Gather evidence. If you can safely do so at the scene, use a phone or other camera to take photographs of any damage, injuries, causes of the crash, construction zone signage, temporary road markings, etc.
Report the incident to your insurer. You need to report the incident to your insurance carrier as soon as possible. You do not need to provide detailed information about the incident initially, but you must inform the insurance company that a crash occurred.
Contact an attorney. You should consider consulting with a skilled Texas car accident lawyer in the aftermath of an incident around a construction zone. A personal injury attorney will have the resources necessary to conduct a full investigation to determine liability in the case.
Construction Zone Accidents: Who is Liable?
There may be various parties that could be held liable in the aftermath of a Texas construction zone accident. This could include other drivers on the roadway, construction companies, contractors, subcontractors, or government agencies, among others. Construction companies or governmental agencies may be liable in the event:
They failed to alert drivers with adequate warning signs
They did not properly mark temporary lanes for drivers to follow
They neglected to cordon off dangerous areas properly
They did not guide traffic when necessary
Construction workers left dangerous construction equipment near the roadway, which created a hazard for drivers
According to data available from the Texas Department of Transportation, more than 26,000 total crashes were reported in work zones throughout the state during the latest year. Out of these incidents, there were:
168 fatalities
689 suspected serious injuries
2,448 non-incapacitating injuries
7,840 possible injuries
If you or a close loved one has been injured as a result of a construction zone car accident in Texas caused by the careless or negligent actions of another party, seek legal advice and assistance from our law office immediately. The accident attorneys at our law firm will work to thoroughly investigate your case to secure maximum compensation for your personal injury claim during a free consultation.