Kentucky Work Zone Accident Attorneys
Louisville & Lexington lawyers helping after construction zone traffic accidents
Like many states, Kentucky is constantly growing and expanding its population and commerce. To meet the needs of its population, businesses, and visitors, it must keep its roads maintained, repair old infrastructure, and build new roads and highways. While this construction goes on, however, it also means increased work zones, traffic congestion, and road debris, which can all lead to accidents.
At Wilt Injury Lawyers, our Kentucky car accident attorneys have years of experience in these types of claims. We understand the complications that come with work zone accidents, including determine all potential liable parties, and work to secure maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. We’ll investigate exactly what happened to cause your accident, and let you focus on healing while we focus on helping you through the legal process. Contact us in Lexington or Louisville today.
How common are work zone accidents in Kentucky?
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KTC) reports that, in 2021, there were 1,247 work zone crashes. These accidents included 299 injuries and seven fatalities. One of the fatal accidents involved a construction worker, and the other six involved motorists and passengers.
Nationwide, National Work Zone Safety reports the following in 2020:
- 102,000 work zone crashes
- 44,000 work zone injuries
- 857 fatalities
- 244 commercial vehicle-involved fatalities
- 156 pedestrian fatalities
The KTC explains, “
What causes Kentucky work zone accidents?
The KTC also notes that “practicing safe driving behaviors, like driving without distractions and slowing down in work zones, can save a life.” Work zone accidents can happen for many of the same reasons any car accident occurs, but there are also issues unique to construction zones that heighten the risk:
- Changing traffic conditions. When confronted with different traffic patterns, the risk of an accident increases. Drivers can become confused or disoriented, or fail to see stop signs or flaggers, and quickly cause an accident.
- Distracted driving. Work zones can also cause a lot of driver distraction with all the activity occurring. Even a second of inattention can result in a serious accident – especially with heavy construction and machinery close by.
- Work equipment. Construction equipment and vehicles can include things like backhoes, bulldozers, and various trucks and machines. If the operators or drivers act negligently, or the vehicles or machines malfunction, serious accidents and injuries can result. If workers leave debris or machinery in the road, drivers are also at risk of having an accident.
- Blind spots. Construction and work zones can also cause decreased visibility, whether in the form of lane barricades and closures, large machinery, or blinding nighttime work lights. If a driver can’t see everything around them, they can easily cause an accident.
The Kentucky work zone accident attorneys at Wilt Injury Lawyers investigate the cause of your accident and injuries to ensure the right party or parties are held accountable.
What types of injuries happen from work zone accidents?
Work zone accidents can be like any kind of car crash and result in the same types of serious injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Bone breaks and fractures
- Spinal cord injuries and/or paralysis
- Organ damage and internal injuries
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Traumatic amputation injuries
- Soft tissue injuries/whiplash
- Burn injuries
- Lacerations and severe wounds
- Wrongful death
When we take your case, we review your medical records, speaking with your doctors and our own specialists in order to get a full understanding of the scope of your injuries. This helps us present the extent of your injuries to the insurance company or a jury in order to demonstrate how they are affecting and will affect you for the rest of your life.
How can I prevent accidents in Kentucky work zones?
Although you may not be able to prevent being the victim of a negligent driver, you can follow these tips for safer driving in a work zone:
- Follow all signs. Follow all posted traffic signs or flagger instructions. Doing so keeps yourself, other drivers, and construction workers safe.
- Pay attention. Driving distracted is always a bad idea, but especially dangerous in a work zone. A flagger told the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet she nearly lost her life when an inattentive and speeding motorist lost control of their vehicle, barely missing her and instead crashing into her parked vehicle.
- Reduce your speed. The flagger above also told the KTC the driver was 25mph above the posted speed limit. Also, speeding in a Kentucky work zone can net you a much higher speeding ticket than normal.
- Stay in your lane. Generally, work zones filter traffic down to one lane. In some cases, however, there may be two lanes. It’s much safer to keep in your lane – drivers still tend to get distracted or overly cautious in work zones and may not expect you to switch lanes. Wait until you leave the work zone to change lanes. In the same vein, be alert for other vehicles switching lanes.
- Keep a safe distance. Ensure you have a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you in the event you have to brake quickly – which happens often in work zones. This can help avoid a rear-end collision, which the KTC notes is the most common type of work zone accident.
In the event you are involved in a work zone crash with a negligent driver, our Kentucky accident attorneys are here to help.
Do you have a work zone accident attorney near me?
Wilt Injury Lawyers has offices in Louisville and Lexington:
If you are too injured to travel to us, we can arrange a phone or video conference. We also make hospital visits when necessary.
Lexington & Louisville work zone accident lawyers advocating for you
If you or a family member were injured in a work zone accident, the Kentucky attorneys at Wilt Injury Lawyers want to help. We have decades of experience helping clients just like you secure maximum compensation when they suffer injuries in accidents that weren’t their fault. This includes medical expenses, lost paychecks, and pain and suffering. Let us hold the right people responsible for your losses. To schedule a free personal consultation, call 502-253-9110 or fill out our contact form today. We maintain offices in Lexington and Louisville, and proudly serve clients throughout Kentucky.