Car accidents in work zones can be especially catastrophic, as the victims are often workers who are struck by negligent drivers.
Most often, victims of work zone car accidents in Georgia are those working at a site. These individuals might sustain life-altering injuries, such as damage to the spinal cord or brain. Fatal injuries are also common in such incidents. Following this type of accident, victims should seek immediate medical attention and report their injuries to the police. You will have two years to sue for a car accident in a work zone in Georgia. By filing a lawsuit, you may be able to cover compensatory damages for all of your losses, both financial and emotional. Punitive damages might also be available to victims of work zone car accidents.
Call Howe Law today at (844) 876-4357 to get a free analysis of your case from our Georgia car accident lawyers.
Victims in Georgia Work Zone Car Accidents
In Georgia, drivers are alerted to work zones and reductions in speed limits on highways through signage. While work zones are often clearly designated, that unfortunately does not stop all drivers from acting negligently, causing injury to various victims.
When a car accident happens in a work zone in Georgia, it could harm other drivers or those working at a site. Available driving lanes might be decreased in work zone areas, causing lane congestion. This could lead to multi-car accidents if a driver collides with another vehicle.
Reckless drivers who are weaving between lanes, speeding, or driving under the influence might crash into a work site area, injuring workers. In addition to being liable for any injuries a negligent driver causes during an accident in a work zone, drivers might be charged with misdemeanor offenses, punishable by fines or jail time.
Victims of work zone car accidents might sustain a variety of injuries. The most vulnerable individuals in these cases are the employees working in these areas. While they might be wearing some form of safety gear, such as hard hats, little protects these individuals from negligent drivers. Being struck by a car while working in a work zone could lead to broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and other life-changing injuries in Georgia.
According to information provided by the Georgia Department of Transportation crash data portal, there were a staggering 10,499 accidents in construction work zones in Georgia in 2022. Of those incidents, 44 resulted in fatal injuries.
Who is at Fault for Car Accidents in Work Zones in Georgia?
Generally speaking, the person whose negligence causes a motor vehicle accident in a work zone is liable for the damages incurred by victims in Georgia. Determining liability can be somewhat difficult, depending on the case.
There are serious fines associated with speeding or driving recklessly through a work zone in Georgia. Because of that, some drivers might be more likely to flee from the scene of an accident to avoid liability and other penalties. If a driver flees, our attorneys will speak with eyewitnesses and review surveillance footage to identify them.
Fault can also be somewhat complicated in other circumstances as well. For example, suppose your employer failed to have certain safeguards in place in a work zone, such as guardrails or other equipment that might have better protected you during an accident. In such instances, employers might not be liable for a worker’s injuries, provided they have the proper workplace liability insurance. Because of this, our Atlanta car accident lawyers will work to identify the driver whose negligence primarily caused your injuries so that you can file a lawsuit for compensatory damages. You can also sue for compensation if you were hurt by a driver in a work zone as another driver, passenger, bicyclist, or pedestrian.
What Should You Do After a Car Accident in a Georgia Work Zone?
If you were hurt in a work zone car accident in Georgia, there are several things you should do to protect your access to compensation.
Begin by calling the police. This will result in documentation of your accident in the form of a police report. Our lawyers can refer to this report when building your case to gain additional insight into the circumstances surrounding your accident.
Then, go to the hospital. Whenever a victim is suing another party for injury, it is necessary to have documentation of those injuries. Continue to get the proper treatment for your injuries for as long as necessary following a crash.
Once you have taken these steps, our lawyers will investigate your accident further. There are often many witnesses to work zone car accidents. These individuals may be able to provide statements in support of your compensation claim.
Do not hesitate to act following a motor vehicle accident in a work zone, as you will have limited time to pursue compensation. In Georgia, such victims are beholden to a two-year filing deadline.
What Damages Can You Recover for a Work Zone Car Accident in Georgia?
Suing after a car accident in a work zone can result in significant compensation for victims in Georgia. This can allow you to pay off medical bills and other expenses incurred because of a collision.
There is no limit on the compensatory damages victims can refer to following a car accident in a work zone in Georgia. Provided you keep all records of financial losses and submit them as proof of damages, you can likely recover compensation for all economic damages due to an accident. The same can be said for compensation for pain and suffering.
Because driving recklessly in a work zone could constitute gross negligence, victims might also be able to recover punitive damages depending on the situation. In Georgia, punitive damages are typically limited to $250,000.
Call Our Georgia Lawyers About Your Work Zone Car Accident
To have the Athens, GA car accident lawyers at Howe Law evaluate your case for free, call (844) 876-4357 today.
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