Drivers need to remain alert and slow down when they drive through road construction zones on Missouri area highways. The dangers posed by a highway work zone – speed limit reductions, abrupt lane changes, workers and equipment in the roadway – increase when a large commercial truck enters a highway construction zone.
Because of their size and weight, tractor-trailers and other large trucks require more room than passenger cars to slow down and stop safely. If a trucker is inattentive for a moment, fails to slow down adequately, or tries to merge lanes without adequate room, then a tractor-trailer can cause a serious work zone accident.
The St. Louis truck accident attorneys of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC, have extensive experience helping victims of large truck crashes recover compensation for their injuries. Truck accident attorney David W. Craig has handled hundreds of commercial vehicle accidents, representing clients across the Midwest.
The attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless can investigate the cause of a highway construction zone accident and document the full extent of your losses. We will handle the claims process on your behalf and fight for full and fair payment to you. Contact us online or by call us at (314) 367-2661 for a free consultation about your accident and injuries.
Construction Zone Statistics Near St. Louis, MO
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, there were 27 work zone crash fatalities within the state in one recent year. Furthermore, in a recent five-year window, 83 people were killed and another 3,757 were injured in Missouri construction zone accidents.
The construction zone on I-270 between Lindbergh and I-170 near St. Louis had more than 100 crashes in the first half of 2021, according to a KMOV4 report.
In November 2021, two MoDOT road workers were killed and a third hospitalized with serious injuries when a driver went through warning cones in the construction zone and struck the workers directly on Telegraph Road at the Interstate 255 ramp in St. Louis County, according to a KSDK news report.
The number-one cause of work zone crashes was driver inattention. Simply put, drivers who allow their focus to wander from the task of safely operating their vehicles put themselves and everyone around them at risk, particularly in construction zones.
Motor Vehicle Accident Statistics in St. Louis
St. Louis Public Radio (STLPR) recently found that traffic-related deaths have dramatically increased in recent years. Tragically, 987 individuals were killed in Missouri traffic crashes in one recent year alone, a 12 percent increase from the 881 fatalities recorded the previous year.
The Missouri Department of Transportation said that excessive speed was a factor in 40 percent of statewide traffic fatalities. In St. Louis specifically, speed was a contributing factor in 48 percent of fatal motor vehicle accidents.
With fatal accidents becoming more common in St. Louis and across the state, it is imperative for motorists to know how to stay safe on the road, especially while driving through highway construction zones, where the risks of a collision are higher.
Most Common Causes of Truck Accidents in Construction Zones
A properly designed highway work zone safely controls the flow of motor vehicles through a designated area of construction, maintenance, or utility work while keeping traffic away from workers and equipment throughout the construction zone.
Typically, there are four segments to a highway construction zone:
- Warning area, with signs and/or flaggers who alert drivers to the traffic changes ahead
- Transition area where barriers, channeling devices, or lights divert traffic from its normal path and away from work sites
- Protected workspace for workers, equipment, storage
- Termination area where traffic resumes its normal route and speed.
In some cases, flaggers and/or lead vehicles may control traffic, directing it to stop, start and follow designated traffic patterns to ensure safe travel through the construction zone.
Most construction zone accidents involving trucks are caused by a truck driver failing to slow adequately to safely travel through the work zone. A large truck’s high center of gravity makes it more likely to sway or rock and potentially lose traction and control when encountering quick lane shifts, significant pavement height differences, or crossover slopes in a construction zone, particularly if going too fast. Commercial trucks are also hindered by wide blind spots that make it more difficult to merge in heavy traffic.
Many factors can contribute to a serious accident. Some of the primary causes of truck accidents in work construction zones include:
- Speeding – Speeding frequently causes construction zone truck crashes. If a truck driver is traveling too fast for the road conditions and suddenly encounters a traffic slowdown, the truck driver may not have sufficient time or space to stop.
- Failing to maintain a lane –Construction zones often have narrowed lanes. Crashes can occur if a semi-truck driver fails to maintain a safe distance from equipment, barriers, road workers, or other vehicles.
- Following too closely – Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded with cargo, requiring more distance to stop safely. Truck accidents caused by drivers following too closely are common in road work zones. If a truck driver is following another vehicle too closely, the driver may not have adequate time to stop if traffic ahead suddenly slows.
- Failing to merge – Traffic is often required to merge into just one or two lanes when passing through a construction zone. If a truck driver merges lanes suddenly or without warning, the truck driver may overlook another vehicle in a blind spot and cause an accident.
- Failing to anticipate hazards – Work zones contain many hazards, including construction vehicles, barricades, and workers themselves. Truck drivers who fail to anticipate these hazards when passing through construction zones at higher speeds.
- Impatience – Truck drivers have deadlines to meet. As a result, they may be impatient to get through a work zone. This impatience can cause them to speed, tailgate, or drive recklessly, increasing the likelihood of a crash.
- Disregarding signage – Work zones contain an array of signs that are intended to guide automobile drivers and truck drivers safely through a work zone. Disregarding posted warning signs or road flaggers can lead to an accident.
- Distracted driving – Just like other motorists, truck drivers sometimes get distracted by talking on the phone, adjusting the radio, eating and drinking, personal grooming, and other activities. Distracted driving can be deadly when it occurs in a construction zone, where truck drivers must be especially cautious.
Regardless of the exact cause, if you were injured in a St. Louis highway work zone truck accident that wasn’t your fault, you may have the right to pursue compensation from the at-fault party. It is important to consult with a truck accident attorney about your legal options.
Liability For Truck Accident In Construction Zone In St Louis
If you were injured in a truck accident that occurred in a work zone, you may be entitled to seek significant compensation through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. However, truck accidents can be complex to investigate because there is often more than one at-fault party — particularly when they occur in work zones.
Other motorists and construction workers may share some responsibility for the crash. These may include:
- The truck driver – The driver of the truck is often found to be at fault in a collision The truck driver may have caused the accident through distracted driving, fatigued driving, intoxicated driving, speeding, carelessness, or recklessness.
- The trucking company – If the trucking company pressured the driver to exceed the hours of service limits and the driver fell asleep at the wheel and caused a construction zone accident, the trucking company may be liable for the accident. Likewise, if the trucking company failed to properly maintain and inspect its trucks as required, the company’s negligence could have contributed to the crash.
- Cargo loaders, parts manufacturers, and third-party maintenance companies – Cargo must be loaded onto tractor-trailers and secured to prevent it from shifting in transit. Anyone associated with the safe operation of the truck has the potential to make a mistake and be liable for resulting accidents.
- The construction companies associated with the highway construction site – A road contractor may be at fault for failing to design a construction zone and provide proper signage to guide passing motorists.
Get The Help You Need from Our St. Louis Truck Accident Attorneys
The experienced legal team at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC in Missouri can investigate the construction zone truck accident you were involved in to determine what happened and who may owe compensation to you. Contact us quickly so we may document the crash scene and make formal requests for access to the damaged truck and its “black box” event data recorder, the trucker’s electronic activity logs, and other records before they are “lost” or destroyed.
We have a team of dedicated St. Louis personal injury Attorneys that pursues claims for seriously injured clients on a contingency fee basis. Contact us online today or call (314) 367-2661 for a free consultation about your truck accident claim. If you are unable to come to us, we will come to see you.
