St. Louis Car Accident in a Work Zone

Work zones can increase the risk of a car accident, even though they are typically marked by signs warning oncoming cars of what’s ahead.

Work zones are those areas under constructions that cannot typically be fully isolated, such as those you can find on highways. Circulation cannot be stopped completely so the construction firm will take other measures to ensure safety.

But if an accident occurs, who’s liable?

What Causes Work Zone Accidents?

Many work zone collisions are the result of driver negligence, specifically not being careful while crossing near a work zone, which puts everyone else present at risk, from the driver to the workers, and other vehicles.

Here are some examples of when a driver is liable for these accidents:

• Speeding
• Ignoring construction signs and signals
• Distracted driving
• Inadequate merging
• Road rage, which causes the driver to act erratically

However, some work zone accidents may be caused by the construction company or its employees. Here are some examples of when this could be the case:

• Using inadequate signs, or creating confusion among drivers
• Using equipment which generates excessive lights, that could momentarily create vision-impairments
• Creating road debris, and not removing it from the road promptly
• Failing to provide a detour when needed, etc.

How to Prove Liability

If you are in a car accident that occurred in a work zone, one of the first steps to getting compensated is to answer the question: who is responsible?

Note that in Missouri you can have more than one party at-fault for a collision. Even you, the victim, could share part of the blame. You may think a driver caused a work zone accident because they are slightly speeding. Upon investigating, it is found that the accident was made worse because of road debris left on the road, which led to the speeding driver losing control of the car. In this case, both parties may be liable to pay you damages.

At the same time, you can also be found partly negligent because you are on your phone at the time of the accident. Your liability is calculated at 20%, which means you will only collect 80% of your total damages.

Proving liability involves building a case that shows who is responsible for the collision, and should, therefore, cover your damages. To do it, you will need sufficient evidence from the accident that can paint an accurate picture of events to convince the insurance company to award you a fair settlement.

Speak With a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney

When you’re going up against multiple liable parties, or a company with legal representation, it is very important to have experienced legal representation on your side as well. Reach out to a St. Louis car injury lawyer now for further assistance in your work zone collision case.