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Work zone Crashes

Texas has consistently had the highest fatality rate of any state in construction-zone accidents since 1994. Although the problem is not only in Texas – nationwide the number of fatal accidents increased by 70% from 1997 to 2003 – it is certainly a cause for concern. In 2003, there were 1,028 fatal work zone accidents in the U.S., accounting for 2.4% of all traffic accidents. That year, 161 of the accidents were in Texas, almost 16% of the national total.

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Workzone Accident Lawyer

In 2004, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) launched its first Work Zone Public Safety Awareness campaign to promote safer driving. “TxDOT is always striving to lower work zone accidents by developing additional safety measures and by supporting research with work zones,” said TxDOT Director of Operations, Rosa Treviño. “We hope that motorists will do their part to increase safety.”

Perhaps it is because of campaigns such as this one or its national counterpart that fatalities are starting to decrease. Texas actually saw a drop in fatalities between 2002 and 2003 from 197 to 161. According to a TxDOT report, added safety features also contribute to motorists’ safety including plastic construction barrels, signs, and barricades.

But it still may be too early to determine whether the decrease is a direct result of these safety measures. Numbers may have dropped to 161 in 2003, but that’s still higher than the 140 fatalities in 2001. It is very possible that 2002 was a worse year than most and spiked higher than usual. In short, although there was a drop in 2003, the long-term trend for work zone fatalities is still on its way up.

As of July 2005, the 2004 statistics for Texas were not available.

Here are some safety tips from TxDOT to help protect yourself in construction zones:

  • Watch for special instructions and advisories on electronic message boards.
  • Always follow the posted speed limit, even if workers are not present.
  • Pay attention at all times.
  • While driving near a work zone, be prepared for surprise stops.
  • Never tailgate or speed.
  • Be calm. Work zones are not meant to personally inconvenience you.

If you have been injured in a construction zone, either because an inattentive driver hit you or the zone was not properly marked, contact a personal injury attorney at Jim S. Adler & Associates to find out what your rights are. Work zones are hazardous, especially in Texas, but that is not an excuse for negligence. Contact Jim S. Adler & Associates right now by calling us or clicking the link below for a free case review. We’ll make sure your rights are protected.

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