308 West State Street Suite 210 Rockford, IL 61101

Rockford Personal
Injury Lawyers:
Legal Insights for Victims

Contact Us Today
sub-banner

Injuries on Road Construction Sites

All construction sites can be dangerous and have the inherent risk of construction accidents. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), construction is considered to be one of the most dangerous industries due to the large number of injuries and fatalities on sites on an annual basis. While building sites have many risks and hazards, construction sites to build, improve, or repair roads and bridges can be particularly dangerous for workers.
 
Failure to Use Proper Care in a Construction Zone
 
In order to keep the roads safe, road workers have the duty to properly alert drivers to an upcoming road work zone and any potential hazards that may occur in the zone. Unfortunately, this is often not enough for drivers to slow down and obey the work zone speed limit or to take proper care to avoid causing injury to workers. Many accidents occur in road construction zones for the following reasons:
 

  • Distracted driving, including texting or talking on a cell phone;
  • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
  • Drivers who are inexperienced or underage; and/or
  • Drivers who speed or fail to adhere to signals, signs, or messages presented by the construction crew.

 
The majority of the above actions are against the law in Illinois and law enforcement officers take enforcement of the state laws very seriously in and around Roscoe or Freeport. If a driver violates the law, not only will they face a criminal case but also a civil case to compensate any injured construction workers for their losses. Additionally, the penalties for speeding in Illinois are enhanced significantly when the speeding takes place in a construction work zone. For example, a first offense for violating the speed limit in a road work zone will be a fine of $375, while any subsequent speeding offenses can cost up to $1,000 in fines. Illinois legislators are very serious about penalizing speeders in these areas because of the severe risks of serious injury if a worker is hit.
 
Injuries Sustained by Road Construction Workers
 
Like any other type of pedestrian accident, workers who are hit by moving cars can sustain catastrophic injuries. They generally have little to no protection in the event of a vehicle collision and often suffer the following injuries:
 

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI);
  • Broken or shattered bones;
  • Crushed limbs;
  • Nerve damage;
  • Spinal cord injury and paralysis;
  • Internal bleeding and damage to vital organs;
  • Amputations; and/or
  • Neck and back injuries.

 
Drivers should be aware of the risks of driving in a negligent manner through a construction zone and should take care in such areas to make sure that they do not hit and injure a worker.
 
Discuss Your Case With One of Our Loves Park Construction Site Accident Attorneys
 
At the law office of Fisk & Monteleone LTD., our dedicated attorneys understand that serious injuries can occur in road construction zones. However, we also realize that road construction is a necessity for safety and improvement; therefore, drivers should be held responsible if they do choose to drive in a negligent or reckless way. If you have been in a road work zone accident, call our firm at 815-315-9656 for a free consultation today.