Construction Zone Accident Lawyer in Kansas City, MO
Drivers must navigate several hazards while traveling Missouri and Kansas roadways. They must deal with traffic congestion, weather conditions, and poor road conditions. Another frustrating reality that motorists must face is road construction zones. Unfortunately, construction zones can pose another hazard for motorists.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Office of Operations, in 2019 there were 120,000 work zone crashes. Those crashes resulted in 43,000 injuries and 780 fatalities. Fatal crashes in work zones increased by 11 percent between 2018 and 2019. Conversely, fatal automobile crashes not occurring in a work zone decreased by two percent during the same period.
Drivers and passengers of motor vehicles represented 82 percent of the work zone deaths in 2019. Kansas accounted for 16 of the work zone deaths in 2019. Missouri reported 38 work zone deaths in 2019. If you were injured in a construction zone in Kansas or Missouri, our car accident lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri can help. Call us today at 816-203-0143 for a free, no obligation consultation.
How Do Road Work Zone Accidents Occur in Missouri & Kansas?
Speeding was involved in 31 percent of the construction work zone accidents in 2019. Almost one-quarter of accidents in construction work zones were rear-end crashes, likely caused by speeding and distracted driving. Impaired driving and drowsy driving may also contribute to many car accidents in construction work zones.
In addition to driver error, dangerous construction zones may be blamed for some accidents. Some of the factors that could lead to a construction zone accident include:
- Inadequate lighting
- Incorrect or missing warning signs and directional signs
- Missing barriers and cones
- Lack of speed warning signs
- Narrowing lanes too much
- Confusing or sudden lane changes
- Construction debris in the roadway
- Construction equipment in the roadway or too close to the roadway
Negligently staged roadway construction zones can increase the risk of a car accident. Lack of advanced warning, adequate buffer spaces, and clear directions for lane transitions can lead to a deadly construction zone accident.
Tips To Avoid Road Construction Accidents in Missouri & Kansas
Drivers can reduce their risk of being involved in a roadway work zone accident. Tips that help reduce the risk of road construction accidents in Missouri and Kansas include:
- Check for work zones and plan your route
- Remain alert at all times
- Obey all road crew flaggers and road signs
- Reduce speed when approaching and driving through a construction zone
- Allow additional speed between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you
- Watch for road hazards and road debris
Try to remain calm and drive through the work zone. Be patient. If you take your time and remain calm, you can navigate the work zone without an accident.
Truck Crashes Are Common in Missouri & Kansas Construction Zones
One-third of the crashes involved in work zone accidents are commercial motor vehicles. In 2018, there were 22,000 truck accidents in work zones. Motorcycle crashes are also common in construction work zone accidents. In Missouri and Kansas, most of the accidents in road construction zones are passenger vehicles.
However, construction vehicles may also be involved in accidents. For example, dump trucks, loaders, cranes, and other construction vehicles may be involved in a crash when entering or exiting the construction zone. In addition, parked construction vehicles may be involved in sideswipe accidents on the side of the road.
Construction Zone Accidents Cause Serious Injuries in Missouri & Kansas
Construction zone accidents often result in severe and life-threatening injuries, especially when the accidents involve large commercial trucks, buses, or construction vehicles. In Missouri and Kansas, these accidents often involve multiple vehicles in a chain reaction.
When a construction zone does not have concrete barriers, head-on collisions can occur if a vehicle is forced into oncoming traffic because of a collision. Drivers who swerve to miss road hazards may also cause a head-on collision.
Common construction zone accident injuries include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Severe burns and scarring
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Back and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Loss of internal organ function
- Soft tissue injuries and permanent nerve damage
Accidents in road work construction zones can result in severe injuries and permanent disabilities because of the hazards related to the road work. Concrete barriers, heavy equipment, and narrow lanes can turn a minor accident into a devastating crash.
Damages from a Construction Zone Accident in Missouri & Kansas
With the help of our Kansas City personal injury attorney, the damages you may recover from a construction zone accident include economic damages include:
- Cost of medical care and treatment
- Ongoing medical treatment for permanent disabilities
- Loss of income and benefits
- Decrease earning potential
- Travel expenses to and from medical appointments
- Cost of personal care at home or in a long-term care facility
- Rehabilitation, occupational therapy, and physical therapy
- The cost of modifying a home or a vehicle because of a disability
Accident victims in Missouri and Kansas may also recover certain non-economic damages. These damages include the “pain and suffering” caused by the accident. Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Physical pain, suffering, and discomfort
- Emotional distress, including depression and anxiety
- Mental trauma, including PTSD
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Permanent impairments and disabilities
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Decrease in quality of life
The value of your damages depends on numerous factors. A construction zone accident attorney in Kansas City understands how to maximize the value of your damages. Detailed documentation of injuries and financial losses is crucial for increasing your chance of recovering maximum compensation for your damages.
Hiring a Kansas City Personal Injury Attorney for Construction Zone Accidents
Construction zone accidents are complicated personal injury cases. Investigating a construction zone accident requires special knowledge of federal and state laws that govern road construction. The investigation often requires hiring multiple experts, so you need the resources available to hire accident investigators and other experts.
Our construction zone accident attorney in Kansas City, MO investigates all matters related to the accident, including but not limited to:
- Whether the construction company adequately screened and trained workers
- If there was a lack of warning signs
- Whether maintenance standards and safety standards for construction zones were followed
- If workers performed dangerous maneuvers with equipment or construction vehicles
- Whether construction equipment or debris was left in the roadway
- If other motorists contributed to the cause of the road construction accident
In addition to working with accident reconstructionists and other industry experts, our construction zone accident lawyer in Kansas City will work with your physicians to document the extent of your injuries and damages. Testimony from medical experts may be required to prove the severity of your injuries. You may also need the help of economists and other financial experts to calculate your financial losses and future economic damages.
When the claim involves complex legal issues, government entities, large road construction companies, and massive insurance providers, you need a legal team working for you that can handle these matters while you focus on healing from your injuries. You need a personal injury lawyer who has the resources, skills, and knowledge necessary to help you get the best possible result.
Get Help from Our Kansas City Construction Zone Accident Attorney
Victims of construction zone accidents deserve just compensation. The legal team of the Law Office of Kevin J. McManus fights to get you the compensation you deserve after a motor vehicle accident. We handle construction zone accidents throughout Missouri and Kansas.
Contact our office to schedule your free consultation with our Kansas City personal injury lawyer by calling 816-203-0143 or completing our online contact form.
