West Palm Beach Work Zone Car Accidents

As West Palm Beach residents, we are accustomed to frequent road construction throughout our community. These improvements are necessary to maintain our roadways, but, when the process is ongoing, dangerous situations may arise for drivers and others on the road. Work zone car accidents may be complicated for victims legally, since various parties like other motorists, large construction companies, and government entities may be involved. The West Palm Beach car accident attorneys at Donaldson & Weston assist victims with complex claims following a work zone accident. Our firm offers compassionate and zealous legal representation, and we are dedicated to making sure that accident victims receive the compensation that they are entitled to get from all of the parties responsible for their harm. If you have been injured in a devastating car accident in an area in which there was construction, our attorneys are available to discuss your legal rights and options.

Currently, many areas of West Palm Beach are the sites of construction and work zones. These sections of the city not only are dangerous themselves, with slower traffic and drivers ignoring signage, but also they may cause congestion on surrounding roads as vehicles are forced to take detours on less traveled routes. Drexel Road began bridge removal and replacement in July 2017, a project affecting Okeechobee Boulevard, Jog Road, and Belvedere Road. The installation of a water main has also caused periodic lane closures on Haverhill Road. As these and other projects begin or continue, West Palm Beach motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists need to be aware of the potential for a serious motor vehicle accident.

Each year, approximately 90,000 motor vehicle collisions occur in work zones nationally. When serious injuries or fatalities result from these accidents, victims and their families may seek compensation in personal injury or wrongful death claims. Both types of lawsuits are usually based on someone’s negligence in causing the crash. Negligence is proven when a victim, or plaintiff, shows that the defendant has breached an owed duty to act reasonably given the situation. For instance, a driver who speeds through a work zone with lower posted speed limits, causing a collision, can be found to have acted unreasonably. A plaintiff must also establish that their injuries were caused by the driver’s unreasonable actions and that damages resulted.

After liability is shown, plaintiffs may be compensated for medical expenses, both incurred and anticipated, as well as loss of earnings and diminished earning capacity. More than one party could be held accountable for a work zone car accident in West Palm Beach. For instance, the city or another government entity, as well as construction contractors, companies, or workers, may be found negligent, depending on the circumstances. Under Florida’s pure comparative fault scheme of liability, each negligent party is responsible for damages in proportion to its degree of fault. Communicating and negotiating with the various parties involved may be difficult, and consulting an experienced injury attorney can aid in the process of ensuring that your rights are being properly protected and represented.