Road construction zones are one of those places where everything can go sideways in a hurry. You've got narrowed lanes, confused drivers, and workers on foot just trying to do their jobs. Plus, you have heavy machinery operating inches from 70-mph traffic. It's not exactly a recipe for smooth sailing. When things go wrong in these zones, the results can be devastating for everyone involved.
Between rapidly growing highways, constant road repairs, and an endless stream of new construction projects, San Antonio streets are full of orange cones and construction barriers. Most road construction accidents are preventable. However, they keep happening because of distracted drivers, poor signage, inadequate safety measures, or a combination of all three.
If you've been hurt in a road construction accident, you might be able to pursue compensation from negligent drivers, contractors, and other third parties. Read on to learn about the most common types of road construction accidents and what you can do if one of them happens to you.
What are the most common types of road construction accidents?
Work zones come with unique hazards that lead to several distinct types of accidents. The most common road construction accident types include:
Rear-end collisions
When you're out there setting up cones or managing traffic near a lane closure, rear-end collisions are one of your biggest nightmares. You hear the screech of brakes and hope everyone stops in time, but too often they don't. Traffic backs up fast when lanes narrow. If a driver isn't paying attention or following too close, they plow into the car ahead. Sometimes, they're just feet from where you're standing.
These crashes happen because of speeding, distracted driving, tailgating, and impairment. When someone's texting instead of watching for your warning signs, a chain reaction can put you in serious danger even when you're doing everything right.
Side-swipe crashes
As a construction worker, you see side-swipe crashes happen when lanes shift, and drivers panic at the last second. You spend hours setting up the cone pattern and putting out signs. Yet drivers still don't pay attention until they're right on top of the merge. Then they swerve suddenly, clipping the car next to them or veering dangerously close to your work area.
A lot of times, it's because the work zone design is confusing due to:
- Inadequate signage
- Lane markings that don't make sense
- Temporary pavement stripes that are hard to see at night.
When drivers can't figure out where they're supposed to go, they make desperate moves that put both themselves and your crew at risk.
Striking construction equipment and materials
You're working in the zone with barriers, cones, and equipment all around, trying to do your job while cars whiz by just a few feet away. When vehicles strike your barriers or equipment, it's terrifying. You never know if they're going to veer all the way into the work area and hit someone. Maybe the concrete barrier placement isn't ideal after that sharp curve. Perhaps someone parked a truck too close to traffic without enough advance warning.
These accidents happen because of inadequate buffer zones between your crew and live traffic. When there's not enough physical separation, it only takes one distracted or drowsy driver to drift over the line and crash into the equipment you're standing next to.
Motorists hitting workers or flaggers on foot
If you're a flagger or working on foot near live traffic, getting hit by a vehicle might be your worst fear on the job. It happens more often than people realize. You're standing there with your stop sign or working near the lane, completely exposed, trusting that drivers will see your bright vest and slow down.
Inattentive or reckless drivers blow right past the warning signs, and suddenly you're diving out of the way or worse. Even a small mistake by a driver can be fatal when you're on foot with nowhere to go. Sometimes it's because drivers don't get enough advance warning that workers are ahead. But a lot of times it's just that they're not paying attention. You can do everything right and still be in danger.
Construction trucks and heavy machinery accidents
Working around dump trucks, loaders, and heavy equipment is dangerous for everyone on the crew. When one of these massive vehicles is involved in a crash (whether it's hitting a passing car or running over a coworker), the results are usually catastrophic.
Night shifts are especially risky when visibility is already poor, and a large piece of machinery becomes almost impossible to see, even with lights and reflectors. Backup accidents are a constant worry, too, especially when there's no spotter and the operator is relying on mirrors with huge blind spots.
These types of accidents might leave you on edge at all times, making sure you're not in the wrong place when a truck reverses or a piece of equipment swings around. These crashes can injure or kill workers just as easily as passing motorists.
How can a San Antonio work injury lawyer help?
If you've been injured in a road construction accident, you need someone who understands the full scope of what you're dealing with. The Herrera Law Firm focuses on third-party claims, the kinds of cases where you can go after negligent drivers, contractors, equipment companies, or other parties whose carelessness caused your injuries.
Our legal team investigates every angle. We review crash reports, work zone plans, traffic control records, witness statements, and other evidence to establish who was at fault. The goal is to maximize your recovery so you can cover medical bills, replace lost income, and get compensated for the pain and disruption this accident has caused in your life.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a road construction accident in San Antonio or anywhere in Texas, contact us for a free consultation. We'll review your case, explain your options, and help you figure out the best path forward.
