The Biggest Risks for Injuries in Construction Zones

Every Tulsa resident is aware of the ongoing road work our city is constantly experiencing. While undoubtedly a hassle and inconvenience to your morning and evening commutes, these construction zones are also unsafe and put drivers at risk of accidents, injuries, and even fatalities.

It is important that you drive carefully through construction zones. When drivers are in a rush or become frustrated with the construction work and traffic delays, it can cause a car accident that injures either the road workers or other drivers, or both.

Construction zone accidents are on the rise

According to the National Safety Council, close to 900 people were killed and over 37,000 people suffered injuries in construction zone accidents across America in 2022. Since 2010, construction zone fatalities have increased by around 52 percent. Unfortunately, Tulsa is seeing its fair share of these accidents. These are just a few of the construction zone accidents that have occurred in and near Tulsa in the last year:

• In March 2024, a driver crashed into a construction area on I-35 and hit three different workers. It is believed that the driver fell asleep behind the wheel. Two of the workers were airlifted to a hospital. One had severe internal injuries, and the other had a broken leg. The third worker passed away. The workers were working on a bridge at the time of the accident.
• In October 2023, a driver collided into the back of a truck in a construction zone. He was driving west on I-44 at night and spent 11 minutes pinned before firefighters could remove him. He passed away from his injuries.
• In July 2023, a semi-truck crashed in a work zone on I-44. The large truck ended up landing in a ditch after striking a highway sign and knocking it to the ground. A tow truck had to remove the semi-truck from the scene.

What are some of the risks of work zones?

With over 400,000 people living and commuting in Tulsa, construction work is inevitable. However, when work zones are poorly designed, left unmaintained or unmanaged, or lack certain safety requirements, accidents can occur. Road work construction companies are responsible for repairing and fixing the roads to benefit drivers, which also requires them to ensure that traffic passing through remains safe and harm-free. Here are some of the risks of work zones:

• Objects falling off work vehicles
• Machinery and work vehicles operating and driving near traffic
• Poorly designed and unmarked temporary lanes
• Failure to use cones, hazard lights, and other barriers
• Visibility issues, especially at night
• Narrow and compact lanes
• Uneven road surfaces
• Improper directions and warnings
• Sudden and unexpected traffic stops and slowdowns

What are the biggest factors in construction zone-related crashes?

While construction companies and workers can be to blame for car accidents, reckless and careless drivers can also be a contributing variable. The following are some of the most common factors in construction zone-related crashes:

• Tailgating
• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Drunk or intoxicated driving
• Driving while tired or fatigued
• Failing to merge or change lanes
• Ignoring or failing to follow traffic signs and warnings

Which type of accident is the most common in work zones?

Although any type of accident can happen at any time in a work zone, the most common accident that typically occurs is rear-end collisions. This is because drivers tend to drive too close to other vehicles when they are constantly stopping or slowing down, also known as tailgating. If a driver is driving too closely and not paying attention, they can end up crashing into the back of the vehicle in front of them. To avoid a rear-end accident when driving near or through a construction zone, you should try to maintain at least two car lengths between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. You should also ensure that your vehicle is not too close to any of the road workers or their machinery and vehicles.

What is Tulsa doing about the construction zone problem?

Tulsa is taking the initiative to make construction zones safer. A few of the ways they are doing this includes:

• Asking for more police and trooper presence near construction zones
• Displaying more speed and warning signs
• Handing out more citations for speeding and reckless driving near construction work
• Launching a safety campaign to increase work zone awareness
• Requiring all teen drivers to take a work zone safety course

Have you recently been involved in a work zone accident in Tulsa? If so, the work zone car accident attorneys at Biby Law Firm have the knowledge, skills, and resources to help you with your case. We know and understand that construction work can cause a lot of confusion, which can lead to dangerous and devastating crashes. Therefore, if you hire our team, we will thoroughly look over your case and work endlessly to prove liability and secure the compensation you need and deserve to rebuild your life again. Please call our office or complete our contact form to schedule your first meeting with our firm today.