Road construction is a near-constant headache for drivers in Austin. People never know when the highways and surface streets they rely on for their daily commutes may end up throttled down to single lanes or closed entirely.
Even on busy thoroughfares, such as I-35, construction zones pop up frequently and cause both traffic delays and collisions. According to federal collision statistics, almost 900 people died in road work zone collisions in 2023, and more than 40,000 people sustained injuries.
When crashes occur at road construction zones, the people involved may face a challenging process when seeking compensation. A company performing road work could bear a degree of liability for these kinds of accidents.
Liability in work zones may not be straightforward
A large percentage of motor vehicle collisions are undeniably the fault of one specific driver. However, construction zone crashes are different. While there are certainly crashes caused by other drivers speeding or becoming distracted, there’s also the risk of negligent practices on the part of the work crew contributing to the situation.
For example, there may not be appropriate signage advising people of lane closures or when to merge. A lack of flaggers to control traffic could lead to head-on collisions when two drivers both believe they have the right of way. Leaving machinery and tools too close to traffic, especially after dark, can be a risk. Even failing to clear debris promptly can increase collision risk, as debris can damage vehicles or prompt drivers to swerve in unsafe manners.
Drivers involved in construction zone collisions may need to gather evidence of factors that contributed to the wreck, possibly by taking pictures or recording video footage with their mobile phones and collecting information about any witnesses present. They can then assess the situation with the assistance of an Austin-based personal injury attorney to determine who is liable and what options they may have for pursuing compensation.
Identifying liable parties is a critical step for those in need of compensation after a car crash on I-35 or other busy Austin roads. If a road crew is partially at fault for a collision, then the situation may necessitate a lawsuit in addition to, or instead of, an insurance claim against the other driver’s policy.
