Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers: Safety Tips for Work Zones

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Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers discuss safety Tips for Work ZonesIf you are on your way to work or to an appointment and approach a construction zone, chances are it is going to cause significant delays, especially if you are driving during rush hour. It can be frustrating to watch traffic come to a screeching halt because construction workers are repairing a pothole or building a new bridge or road that will facilitate the flow of traffic. Unfortunately, in addition to the relatively minor inconvenience, there is an increase in the incidence of serious car wrecks near work zones.

The National Safety Council released the following statistics about car accidents in work zones:

  • 30,500 people were injured in work zone car accidents in 2014
  • The majority of fatal work zone crashes took place on roads with a minimum speed limit of 55 miles per hour
  • Nearly 20% of fatalities that occurred in work zones involved pedestrians and cyclists
  • From 2005 to 2015, the average number of fatal work zone accidents was 733 per year

Construction Zone Safety Tips

When approaching a construction zone, keep the following safety tips in mind in order to avoid injuring yourself and others in a car accident:

  • Allow ample space between you and the car ahead of you. You should do this at all times, but especially in a work zone when you may be following trucks that are carrying construction equipment. Never pass another vehicle on the median. This can seriously endanger the construction workers and other motorists on the road. You will also incur a steep fine if you do this.
  • Obey the posted speed limits. Speeding is extremely dangerous, especially in work zones. Even if you do not see workers on the job, there may be other reasons why the speed limit is reduced in that area. During inclement weather, you may want to drive even slower if the road conditions are treacherous.
  • Refrain from distracted driving. Whether it is texting while driving, talking on your cell phone, or any other behavior that takes your eyes off the road, this kind of behavior can be particularly dangerous when you are driving in a work zone. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), when a driver takes his or her eyes off the road for a mere five seconds, it is equivalent to driving the length of a football field without looking at the road.
  • Slow down. This may seem obvious, but you should always reduce your speed when you see signs alerting drivers of a work zone. Driving too fast in a work zone can put you and the construction workers at risk.
  • Stay in your lane. Avoid lane changes unless it is absolutely necessary. There are often lane closures in construction zones, so it best to remain in your lane until to have passed through the work zone.

Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Represent Victims Injured in Work Zone Car Accidents

If you have been involved in a car accident that took place in a construction zone, you are urged to contact the Baltimore car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton as soon as possible. If we determine that another driver caused the accident by driving irresponsibly through a work zone, we will aggressively pursue the maximum financial compensation you deserve for your injuries. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.

Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent car accident victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.