Birmingham Construction Zone Car Accident Lawyers

Did you suffer serious injuries or was your loved one killed in an automobile accident in a construction zone anywhere in Alabama? If the crash was caused by another party’s negligence, you could be entitled to various forms of compensation.

Construction zones can be dangerous because lanes may be closed, speed limits may be lowered, debris may be in the road, and there may be more pedestrians than usual. If another driver is reckless as they pass through a construction zone, they can cause serious accidents and injuries.

The Birmingham personal injury specialists at Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP have more than two decades of experience handling all kinds of car crash cases, including those that occur in construction zones. Our firm understands the many complicating factors in these cases and can help people overcome the obstacles so they can get the compensation they need and deserve.

If you or your loved one has been involved in any kind of work zone crash in the greater Birmingham area, you do not have to shoulder the costs of your recovery on your own.

Call (205) 324-1212 or fill out an online contact form to arrange a free consultation that will allow our Birmingham car accident lawyers to provide an honest and thorough evaluation of your case.

Do I Need A Construction Zone Accident Lawyer?

You are going to want an attorney involved in your case as soon as possible so you can avoid unknowingly damaging your case when you speak to insurance agents. Accidentally making a damaging statement can be especially disastrous in Alabama, because Alabama is one of only five states in the nation that still recognizes the defense of contributory negligence.

Contributory negligence is an affirmative defense that holds that a defendant can only be liable for damages in a personal injury action when they were 100 percent at fault for the injuries. When a plaintiff is even 1 percent at fault for their injuries, they will be barred from recovering any damages.

Needless to say, insurance companies that need reasons to deny injury claims will very much want to get victims to admit to some kind of negligence. This is frequently accomplished through recorded statements in which victims respond to questions that essentially trick them into making such admissions.

Insurance companies could also quickly offer you a lump sum settlement to resolve your case, but you should know that whatever you are being offered is probably a lot less than what you are actually entitled to. You want a lawyer who knows how to negotiate with an insurance company so they can achieve a truly fair and full settlement.

Why Choose Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP To Handle My Case?

As soon as you contact Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP, we will immediately commence an independent investigation into your crash. We will use all available resources to determine the cause of the accident, collect relevant evidence, and identify all liable parties.

Kirby Farris and Ken Riley are both Birmingham residents who were born and raised in Alabama. They are both members of the Alabama Bar Association, American Bar Association, and Birmingham Bar Association admitted to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, and United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama as well as the Alabama Supreme Court.

If Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP is unable to negotiate a settlement to your case, we will not be afraid to file a lawsuit. Our firm has secured multiple verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million.

We also represent every client on a contingency fee basis, which means that you will not be asked to pay anything up front as our fees will only be collected when you receive a monetary award. This also means that in the unlikely event that we are unable to recover any compensation for you, you will not owe us a cent.

Types of Construction Zone Accident Cases We Handle

Birmingham takes work zone safety very seriously. The city’s schedule of fines establishes that a speeding violation committed in a construction zone that is less than 25 miles per hour (MPH) over the posted speed limit is punishable by a fine of $40 and court costs of $170 ($210 total), while a violation of 25 or more MPH is punishable by a fine of $80 and court costs of $170 ($250 total). The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) promotes work zone safety every April.

Every car accident is different, and work zones often add another dimension of separability to a crash. Certain collisions in work zones are unique because the causes may be directly related to work zone conduct or failures.

Some of the most common causes of construction zone accidents include, but are not limited to:

• Confusion about traffic signs
• Failure to obey traffic signs
• Speeding
• Merging issues
• Distracted driving
• Weather conditions
• Driver fatigue
• Road construction crew errors
• Defective paving
• Improper planning
• Construction defects

Work zone accidents can be extremely complex, and some crashes can require the use of reconstruction experts. Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP will take all of the steps necessary to help you get justice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Construction Zone Accidents

Construction zone accidents are exceptionally complex. We have posted the answers to some common questions we hear at our office below, but do not hesitate to contact us at (205) 324-1212 for answers to any specific questions you have about your case.

What is the definition of a work zone?

ALDOT defines work zones as work being done on the roadway, adjacent to the roadway, in an intersection, or at ramps. Alabama law requires drivers to yield the right of way to any authorized vehicle or pedestrian engaged in work in a work zone. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides work zone safety guidelines, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) has a work zone operations best practices handbook.

Could work crew members possibly be at fault for my accident?

Yes. It is entirely possible that a car accident in a work zone could have been the fault of a negligent work zone crew. Mislabeled detours, lack of warnings, and insufficient flagmen are just a few of the possible types of negligence that could make the party overseeing the construction area liable for a victim’s injuries. Other errors could include failure to replace missing manhole covers, missing guardrails or barriers, and other vehicles improperly entering or exiting work zones. It is also important to keep in mind that certain cases could possibly involve multiple liable parties, as many other individuals could be liable for victims beyond just construction contractors or workers. Other liable parties could include trucking companies, governmental entities, safety inspectors, engineering firms, or drivers of other vehicles.

What should I do if I am involved in a construction zone accident?

The first thing for any person to do after any kind of accident in a work zone is to make sure that they receive medical attention. Even if you do not think that you were harmed, keep in mind that some injuries have delayed symptoms and simply visiting a hospital can ensure your health by immediately allowing you to receive the proper treatment. When it is possible, you should try to take pictures of the vehicles, people, and everything else involved in your accident. Get as many pictures as you possibly can and also look for any potential witnesses who saw the accident and ask these people for their names and phone numbers. Perhaps most importantly, try to remain very quiet about your accident. Do not discuss it on social media websites and avoid speaking to any insurance company until you have a lawyer.

Construction Zone Accident Statistics

ALDOT reported that there were 3,154 total crashes in work zones in Alabama in 2017. This total was an increase from the 2,960 total crashes reported in 2016.

Of the 3,154 work zone crashes in 2017, 2,245 (76 percent) were property damage only (PDO) crashes, 652 (22 percent) were injury crashes, 18 (1 percent) were fatal crashes, and 45 (1 percent) were unknown. Over the preceding 10 years, there were 652 injury crashes and 18 fatal crashes in 2016, 492 injury crashes and 31 fatal crashes in 2015, 504 injury crashes and 21 fatal crashes in 2014, 541 injury crashes and 22 fatal crashes in 2013, 477 injury crashes and 23 fatal crashes in 2012, 585 injury crashes and 19 fatal crashes in 2011, 621 injury crashes and 19 fatal crashes in 2010, 518 injury crashes and nine fatal crashes in 2009, 472 injury crashes and 16 fatal crashes in 2009, and 478 injury crashes and 31 fatal crashes in 2007.

The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse reported that there were 710 fatal crashes in work zones in the United States in 2017 resulting in 799 fatalities, and both totals were the highest since 2007 when 732 fatal crashes caused 830 fatalities. The 2017 total included 216 truck-involved crashes causing 265 fatalities, 129 pedestrian-involved crashes causing 126 fatalities, and 132 worker fatalities.

Contact a Birmingham Construction Zone Accident Attorney Today

If you suffered catastrophic injuries or your loved one was killed in a car accident in a work zone in the Birmingham area, you will want to act quickly to exercise your legal rights. Any crash caused by another negligent party is usually compensable, but insurance companies never make the process of recovery easy.

Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP can step in and act on your behalf to help you get every dollar that you are owed. Call our Birmingham car accident lawyers at (205) 324-1212 or fill out an online contact form to take advantage of a free consultation.