Preventing Construction Zone Transportation Accidents
Tragically, the Tampa Bay Times has reported that a 43-year-old construction worker was recently killed in a construction zone accident. The man was apparently killed early on a recent Friday morning as he tried to stop traffic in central Florida. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 71-year-old man was approaching the worker who was standing in the road and while traffic in the left lane stopped, the elderly man who was operating the vehicle in the right lane instead collided with the worker. The driver of the vehicle wasn’t injured but the construction worker was taken to the hospital where he later died. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The Risks of Construction Zones for Workers
Unfortunately, there are clear risks when it comes to construction zones for both the motorists who drive through them and for the workers who construct and maintain the infrastructure that the rest of us use to travel from one destination to another. Statistics published by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health indicate that during one 7-year period, transportation events accounted for 76 percent of roadway work zone fatal occupational injuries. In well over half of these scenarios, the worker was struck by a vehicle in the work zone. And sadly, Florida comes in second among national rankings of states with the most worker deaths at road construction sites.
Factors Leading to Construction Zone Transportation Accidents
Worker injuries and fatalities can happen in work zones as a result of multiple factors such as:
- Speeding
- Low visibility
- Impaired driving
- Driving at night
- Texting and other distracting behaviors
- Poor vehicle maintenance
- Lack of seatbelt use
- Road debris such as construction materials
- Inappropriately marked signage
How Drivers Can Help
We have all experienced the frustration that sets in when we are focused on arriving at our destination and instead happen to encounter a construction zone that delays or detours us from our journey. Even in the midst of the frustration that can arise, the good news is that there are behaviors each of us can adopt to help reduce the risk of work zone accidents and injury to ourselves and the construction workers around us. Any time you are approaching a work zone, remind yourself to:
- Obey the posted speed limit
- Look out for any construction workers who are controlling the flow of traffic
- Ignore incoming phone calls, texts or other distractions
Have You Been Injured While Working in a Construction Zone?
Many factors outside of your control can unfortunately cause a workplace injury in a construction zone. No matter which factor has led to you suffering an injury while working in a construction zone, you will likely need legal help in order to obtain the compensation you deserve. As the Miami workers’ compensation attorneys at Payer & Associates, we have significant experience helping injured workers and we don’t back down from the challenges offered by difficult cases involving serious injuries. We can help you obtain all the benefits you are entitled to while you focus on restoring your health. Begin by contacting us today to schedule a free consultation.
Resource:
tampabay.com/news/florida/2020/10/23/florida-construction-worker-hit-by-car-while-trying-to-stop-traffic/
