A tragic work zone accident took the lives of six people in upstate New York September 2012. According to news reports, a tractor-trailer ran into a series of vehicles that were either stopped or slowed in a work zone. The truck accident took place on a stretch of Route 11 in Jefferson County that was being paved at the time of the collision. Authorities say that the semi-truck first crashed into an SUV, which burst into flames, killing all five occupants of the vehicle. Then another SUV was hit by the tractor-trailer. It flipped over, killing the driver of that vehicle as well. A state transportation worker’s vehicle was also struck, causing it to ignite. The driver of that vehicle was seriously injured and remains in the hospital. Two other tractor-trailers were also involved in the multi-vehicle collision; however, their drivers did not suffer any significant injuries.
Law enforcement officials do not yet know why the original tractor-trailer collided with the first vehicle. The driver was detained by officials and submitted to toxicology tests after which he was released. State police accident reconstruction experts are currently interviewing witnesses and plan to use a computer simulator program to help determine how the accident happened. In the meantime, three families are grieving the loss of at least one family member and another awaits news of the victim in the hospital.
Work-Zone Accidents
Work zones create a heightened risk of accidents on the nation’s roadways. In order to maintain existing roads and construct new roads, it is often necessary to work on roadways while motorists are traveling on them. Despite the best efforts of construction companies, law enforcement, and local governments to make work zones safe, they still present a serious risk to motorists and construction workers alike. The dizzying maze of signs, barrels, flashing lights, and flaggers can confuse motorists who are trying to navigate a construction zone. In addition, lanes are often more narrow in a construction zone and may meander from one side of the road to the other throughout the work zone. To make matters worse, construction equipment or vehicles are also frequently moving in and out of the work zone, adding to the obstacles that must be avoided. All of these factors make roadway work zones extremely dangerous.
According to the Fatal Analysis Reporting System, or FARS, there were 2,000 personal injury accidents and another 8,000 property damage accidents that occurred in work zones in 2008. FARS also reports that 4.4 percent of all large truck fatal accidents occur in work zones. A full ten percent of all fatal construction accidents happened in a roadway work zone according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
If you have been injured in a work-zone accident, you may be entitled to compensation for those injuries. The car accident lawyers at Ginarte Gonzalez Winograd L.L.P., may be able to help. With seven offices conveniently located in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, we have an office near you. Contact the firm today by calling 888-446-2783 for your free consultation or fill out our online contact form.