Construction picks up in Atlanta during the summer months, which means more construction workers on the roads and more detours or closed lanes. Construction sites can be dangerous, and construction workers are not the only ones at risk. Drivers who do not know how to react to merging lanes or who are distracted by the construction may be a risk to other motorists on the road. Construction can also lead to road closures causing detours for trucks and other vehicles and increasing the chances of a crash happening on unfamiliar roads.
Because construction sites can be dangerous places, it is imperative drivers slow down to get through the construction zone safely. A driver who disobeys a slower speed limit set in a construction site could be subject to a large traffic ticket fine. If a driver is disobeying the construction zone limit or is otherwise negligent, his carelessness in the construction area could be justification for a personal injury claim brought by injured workers or other victims involved in a collision. An Atlanta car accident lawyer at Van Sant Law, LLC can provide legal assistance to victims involved in construction accident cases.
Roadway Work Zones are Dangerous for Motorists and Workers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published a comprehensive report about the dangers of work zones for motorists and for construction workers. The CDC has included data dating back to 1994 to show trends in construction zone accidents over time:
- From 1994 to 1999, there were 778 motorist fatalities in construction and maintenance work zones.
- From 2000 to 2006, there were 1060 fatalities in construction and maintenance work zones.
- From 2007 to 2012, there were 669 fatalities in construction and maintenance work zones.
The highest number of people injured in construction and maintenance work zones occurred in 2003, when there were 1,095 people killed in construction areas on the road. The lowest number of deaths, 609, occurred in 2012.
The CDC also has data on people killed while working on construction sites, in addition to the information on motorists affected by construction accidents. In total between 2003 and 2007, there were 639 worker deaths while workers were on roadside construction zones. This accounts for 7.9 percent of all construction-industry deaths.
From 2003 to 2010, 962 workers were killed on a road construction zone. Hundreds continue to be killed each year. In 2013 alone there were 105 worker deaths in construction areas. Georgia was one of the top 10 states for worker deaths in construction areas on the road, with only Texas, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, California and Tennessee having a higher number of worker fatalities.
Georgia drivers need to be aware they are endangering construction workers, themselves, and other motorists. When driving through a construction area in Atlanta this summer, be certain you obey all rules for merging lanes or staying out of work zones. You should also ensure you slow down to a safe speed, following the posted guidelines until you have left the work zone entirely.
The Atlanta car accident lawyers at Van Sant Law, LLC can represent you after an injury caused by a negligent driver. Call today at (800) 234-9556 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.