Road Construction and Repair is a Dangerous and Sometimes Fatal Job
We often encounter road work, whether it’s on a local road or a major interstate. We might think about how this may delay our trip or grow frustrated at the traffic jam in front of us. How many of us think about the safety of those doing the work?
We complain about how bad roads and highways are and about inconvenience when they’re repaired or expanded. We need road and highway repairs because these roadways help everyone who uses them.
Smooth, functional roads that aren’t packed with traffic get us where we want to go and make driving safer. A driver may swerve to avoid a pothole and hit another vehicle instead. As more vehicles pack into a limited space, it’s just a matter of time before a driver’s mistake causes a crash.
New and Better Roadways Come at a Price
For us to enjoy better roads, those working on them need to do their jobs, not spend time in hospitals or be killed by careless, speeding drivers.
Blake Barnes, a 22-year-old Transportation Cabinet worker, was killed in Hodgenville, Kentucky, in April while flagging traffic, reports WDKY. A man driving a van struck him in a work zone. Barnes is one of many killed or injured on road repair and construction sites.
Road construction workers were killed on the job during the first three months of the year in Alaska, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Texas, and North Carolina, USA Today reports. Six workers were killed a year ago when two cars traveling more than 100 miles an hour crashed into a construction site on the Baltimore Beltway in Maryland. Often, law enforcement members at the site are also killed or injured in these accidents.
From 2003 to 2020, 2,222 highway workers were killed in US highway work zones, for an average of 123 every year, according to the Bureau of Labor (BLS) statistics. The agency reports that from 2011 to 2020:
- 73% of worker deaths (or 919 people) happened at road construction sites
- 63% of these accidents (or 577 people) involved the victim being struck by a vehicle
USA Today reports that workers on foot being struck by vehicles made up 45.3% of deaths at road construction sites from 2017 to 2019. Other causes include accidents while workers are in vehicles, they’re struck by trucks and equipment involved in the construction work, falls, and electrocutions. In 2020, 857 people died in 774 work zone accidents. Most were motorists and passengers, with 117 construction workers killed.
How Can Drivers Make Worksites Safer?
We need to slow down because the higher our vehicle’s speed, the more difficult it is to control. It also takes longer to stop, and there’s less time to react to situations. Drivers should go the posted speed limit or slower if driving conditions aren’t ideal.
If there are multiple lanes in the area, safely get into the lane farthest from the work site before entering the work zone. Drivers should be very aware of what’s beside and in front of them to avoid colliding with another vehicle. If there’s a multiple-vehicle crash, at least one could hit construction workers.
How Can Contractors Make Worksites Safer?
The contractor in charge of the site must use common sense and comply with federal, state, and local safety rules. Some of the things a contractor must do are:
- Properly train workers about job site safety
- Establish a perimeter around the site
- Make sure there are sufficient barriers between traffic and workers
- Have a person on site who’s responsible for safety matters
- Have law enforcement control traffic when flaggers aren’t enough
- Ensure there is sufficient signage in the right places to warn drivers of the site, including lane closures and speed limits
Worksite injuries and deaths caused by traffic may result from multiple mistakes by the driver and the company responsible for the project. Both may be held accountable for their negligence.
What Rights Does the Injured Worker Have?
If you or a family member are injured or killed in one of these accidents, contact Satterley & Kelley PLLC because you may be entitled to compensation for the harm you suffer. These situations may be complex, factually and legally, depending on the situation, and we can start a thorough investigation to determine who did what to cause the accident.
Someone working on a road construction project could first turn to worker’s compensation benefits from their employer. If the worksite wasn’t adequately protected, or management committed negligence that played a role in the accident, and the injured worker was employed by a subcontractor (not the main contractor responsible for the site), the main contractor may be held at least partially responsible.
The motorist causing an accident that led to the injuries may also be liable. If the worker dies of their injuries, their next of kin may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the responsible parties.
Speak To a Car Accident Attorney Today
If you’re injured in a serious accident in Kentucky, we are your boots on the ground. Call Satterley & Kelley PLLC to talk to a skilled personal injury lawyer today. Call our Louisville office toll-free at 855-385-9532 or complete our contact form to get started.