Texas Work Zone Accident Lawyer

Common Causes of Work Zone Accidents

One of the most critical responsibilities your work zone accident attorney has is figuring out who is responsible for causing your accident.

The cause of your accident will point your lawyer in the direction of the liable party. For example, some of the most common causes of work zone accidents in Texas include:

Improper Signage

Construction and work zones should be carefully marked with signs to inform drivers of the hazardous conditions ahead. Furthermore, there should be clear instructions that guide drivers through detours.

Construction Area Debris

When debris is left in work zones and not properly secured, it can fly away and enter the main roadways, causing severe motor vehicle accidents.

Failure to Secure the Construction Zone

Work zone employees must secure the area with appropriate safety equipment, signs, and other necessary materials. Failure to take safety precautions and secure the site is negligence.

Poor Road Conditions

Work and construction zones can cause poor road conditions, particularly in areas with heavy traffic and congestion. Work zones should be set up to reduce the likelihood of these conditions.

Liable Parties in Work Zone Accidents

Once your lawyer has a better idea of how your work zone accident occurred, we can determine who is responsible for causing the accident.

Generally, anyone involved in the construction or work zone could share liability for your injuries. For example, some parties found liable in work zone accidents across Texas include:

• Government agencies
• Construction site workers
• Contractors and subcontractors
• Municipalities
• Equipment manufacturers and distributors
• Safety inspectors
• Other third parties

Only an in-depth investigation into the cause of your work zone accident will reveal who is responsible for causing your injuries and therefore compensating you for your damages.

How Shared Fault Impacts Your Work Zone Accident Claim

Texas is a modified comparative negligence state. Also commonly referred to as proportionate responsibility, if you are partially to blame for your work zone injuries, you will not be barred from recovering compensation; however, you will be held accountable for your portion of liability.

For example, if you were found to be operating your vehicle over the speed limit and caused a collision in a work zone, but the work zone in question was not adequately marked with necessary signs, you could still be compensated for your damages. However, your injury settlement would be reduced to account for your percentage of culpability.

If you were found 10% liable, your injury settlement would be reduced by 10%. Sharing liability for your injuries following a work zone accident will dramatically impact the amount of compensation you can be awarded. For this reason, your work zone accident attorney must ensure liability is fairly assessed in your case.

Recoverable Damages in Texas Work Zone Accidents

After a work zone accident in Texas, you have the right to be repaid for every loss if someone else is responsible for causing your injuries. Common economic and non-economic damages awarded in Texas work zone accident claims include:

• Mental anguish
• Physical pain and suffering
• Loss of companionship and love
• Loss of support in guidance
• Diminished quality of life
• Lost income and earning capacity
• Medical expenses, equipment, and hospital bills
• Future medical expenses
• Skin scarring and disfigurement
• Property damages

These are only a few of the different damages you could recover as part of your work zone accident claim in Texas. If you are interested in finding out how much your claim is worth, be sure to contact our office to discuss your losses in further detail.

Texas Work Zone Crash Stats

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) provides crash stats annually surrounding works on accidents across the state. The most recent data, published in 2021 and describing statistics from 2020 are concerning, to say the least:

• There were more than 22,000 work zone accidents in Texas in 2020. This is in addition to the 35 pedestrians and bicyclists and four construction workers killed in Texas work zone accidents.
• 680 people were seriously injured in work zone accidents in 2020.