Blog Topic

Beware of Poorly Marked Construction Zones
Posted by: Craig A. Knapp
July 05, 2011

Americans completely rely on signs and signals to tell us how to drive. Whether we're trying to stay in a lane by staying within the designated lines, looking up at a street light to see whether we should stop or go, or watching out for special requirements like stop signs, yield, no u-turns, no turn on red, wait for arrow, or one-way street signs, we are reliant on the signs, symbols, and signals around us to dictate our driving.

Fortunately, these signs are things drivers look out for every day and expect to see. However, what would happen if a demand was put upon drivers at the last minute, without any warning? For instance, entering a construction zone, or a closed off road. These signs are not expected when driving, and because of this, can be the cause of accidents.

For example, one night a woman was driving her truck down the freeway. She was driving in a left-turn lane that led onto a side road. As she neared her exit, she saw that the side road was closed because of a sewer line construction project. Because of this, she was forced to merge back into traffic and struck a motorcyclist, causing the motorcyclist fatal injuries, and the woman to suffer life-altering fractures, resulting in physical disability from work.

When fought in court, the jury found the woman 50-percent responsible and the construction company 50-percent responsible. Although the woman should have taken more precautions when merging lanes, had there been a clearly marked construction zone, the accident could have been avoided completely. Due to the construction company's lack of precautions, the woman was awarded $4.25 million, and $1.9 million went to the motorcyclist's estate.

Many drivers believe an accident must be caused by one of the two drivers involved. However, in unforeseen circumstances, such as a construction zone that doesn't normally exist, sometimes the blame isn't always with the drivers. If you feel as though you have been the victim of an accident due to a poorly marked construction zone, give Knapp & Roberts a call. We will fight to ensure that your rights as a driver are met, and that future drivers receive adequately marked construction zones while driving.

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