Rear-End Accidents: The Most Common Accident in a Work Zone

We’re all familiar with the orange barrels on the road: they signify road work, which leads to detours, delays, and slower traffic. Driving through a construction zone can irritate anyone, but it’s important to stay safe during your travels. Rear-end crashes, which are one of the most common accidents people have in a work zone, can damage cars and seriously injure drivers. In fact, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) notes that 80% of people killed in work zone crashes are drivers and passengers, not construction crew members.

Stay Safe When Driving Through a Work Zone

To stay safe while going through a construction zone, drivers should be mindful of the following tips:

  • Avoid distractions. Work zones can result in lanes that are narrowing, speed limits changing quickly, and crews of people sharing the roadways with you as they work on the project. To ensure you are aware of everything, avoid distractions while you drive through. Put your phone away, and don’t fiddle with the radio or reach for your coffee.
  • Be mindful of the speed limits. Taking care not to speed keeps you and everyone else safer. It also eliminates your chances of being pulled over for speeding in a work zone and getting hit with a huge fine.
  • Go with the flow. Maintain the flow of traffic. If you need to merge, do so as soon as possible instead of waiting until the last second and cutting over in front of another driver.
  • Keep calm and drive on. Road rage tends to bring out the most unsafe driver in all of us. When you’re driving through a work zone, the lowered speed limits and delays can make anyone frustrated. Just don’t let it cloud your judgment. Speeding, tailgating, and cutting off other drivers can lead to traffic tickets, accidents, and possibly deadly injuries. If you know you’re going to be driving through construction, give yourself plenty of time to account for any possible hiccups.

Hurt In A Work Zone Accident? Call A Personal Injury Attorney

If you were involved in a rear-end collision or any other kind of accident in a work zone, you may want to speak to a personal injury attorney. The attorneys at Udall Shumway, PLC will discuss your case and help you determine what damages you can collect to help with your medical bills or wages lost from time off work.

This blog should be used for informational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice. If you or someone you know wishes to seek the help of an experienced personal injury attorney regarding The Most Common Accident in a Work Zone, or other personal injury matters, call Mesa AZ Personal Injury Attorney Clark R. Richter at 480-461-5321 or contact him at crr@udallshumway.com for a free consultation to discuss your rights and options. Udall Shumway PLC is located in Mesa, Arizona and is a full service law firm. We assist Individuals, families, businesses, schools and municipalities in Mesa and the Phoenix/East Valley.