Fort Lauderdale is a city that is perpetually under construction. If you take the Brightline to Miami or work near the Broward County Central Courthouse, you’ve probably noticed the early stages of construction for massive apartment and condo buildings. Fat Village and the Mass District has had more than their share of breweries and other businesses erecting small to medium sized buildings. And the exit from I-95 to Sunrise Boulevard has been under road construction for the better part of a year. All of that spells danger for Fort Lauderdale motorist.
ACCIDENTS BY THE NUMBERS
There are many things about car accidents in general that might surprise you. For example, in 2016 there were more fatalities, 18,590, in rural areas than in urban areas, 17,656, according to the National Highway Safety Administration. Moreover, you are more likely to be involved in a fatal accident at night than during the day, regardless of whether your accident occurs in a rural or urban area, and according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), there were 45 accidents involving a farm labor vehicle in 2016. You might look at these examples and think that they are outliers or abnormal accidents, which is true. When you consider that 344,170 car accidents occured in 2014, a car accident involving a tractor would be considered a rare occurrence that might leave you wondering exactly how that accident occurred.
This is the general mindset of most individuals when they think of car crashes that occur near a construction zone, but these accidents are not outliers and are becoming more common. An estimated 395,785 accidents occured in the state of Florida in 2016, and of the accidents that occured that year, over four thousand involved, whether directly or indirectly, a work zone, which is defined as a construction, maintenance, or utility zone. Additionally, 35 of these accidents involved one or more fatalities. Accidents that occur within or near a construction zone can and do end with drivers and passenger sustaining both fatal and non-fatal injuries, but there are some things you can do proactively to avoid being involved in a construction zone accident.
HOW TO AVOID A CONSTRUCTION ZONE ACCIDENT IN FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
Driving through a construction zone can be a confusing task with many factors that can cause an accident such as diverted traffic, closed roads, construction workers, equipment, or barrackades. As such, below are some factors you should always be watching out for if you are driving through a construction zone.
1. Avoid Construction Equipment as Much as Possible
One of the most dangerous things in a construction zone is the equipment. Dump trucks, cranes, concrete trucks, and asphalt machines are just a few of the many pieces of equipment that you would commonly find in a construction zone. According to the DHSMV, there were over 300 accidents involving work zone equipment in 2016. 4 of these accidents involved one or more fatalities. So, when you are driving through a construction zone, you should scan for any equipment being used, while driving in a lane that is as far away from the construction equipment as possible.
2. Always Scan for Barriers
Most people are cognizant of barriers when they are driving near a construction zone, but drivers can often get distracted by people or events outside or inside the car. According to the DHSMV, there were over three thousand accidents involving concrete barriers in 2016 with 37 of these accidents involving one or more fatalities. Moreover, there were over 400 accidents involving “other barriers,” which could include things such as cones or construction barrels.
These accidents often occur, because drivers often pass the same construction zone every day over a very long period of time, which leads to a driver becoming complacent and getting involved in an avoidable accident. As such, if you are driving near a construction zone, you should pay attention to how close you are to any barriers that are in place.
3. Avoiding Other Drivers that Drive Aggressively
Despite the increased speeding fines in a construction area, other drivers still speed or just drive in a reckless manner. The DHSMV estimates that over 61 thousand people were injured in accidents involving a driver that was speeding or driving aggressively, and 393 of these accidents involved one or more fatalities. Given the dangerous nature of a construction zone, you should always be aware of other drivers. If a driver is speeding, allow them to pass you, or If a driver is tailgating, try to move out of their way. The reason being, driving defensively in a construction zone is the best way to avoid being involved in an accident caused by the negligent actions of a careless driver or construction worker.
CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS IN FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
Unfortunately, some accidents are unavoidable, and when they occur near a construction zone, they can have a devastating effect on the people involved. The best way to minimize the damage you have sustained after a car accident occurs is to contact a car accident attorney who is dedicated to protecting your interests. 1-800-Injured is a lawyer and medical referral service with a network of car accident attorneys throughout the state of Florida. We pride ourselves on connecting individuals like you with a lawyer that will fight to obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries. So call us today to find out how a car accident attorney can help you.