Construction zones are dangerous. In a recent year in Tennessee, 16 people were killed in crashes in work zones, and hundreds more were injured, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Large trucks are involved in about 27% of fatal work zone crashes, according to truck accident fatality statistics in Tennessee.
If you got hurt in a construction zone accident that was caused by someone else, you should not have to bear the financial burden of covering your medical bills or missing time from work while you are healing. You can seek compensation from the at-fault party to cover all those expenses and more.
If you find yourself in this position, you need a construction zone accident lawyer in Tennessee from The Terry Law Firm. We’ve been helping injured people get the money they deserve since 1960. We would like to help you, too.
Contact our office today for a free consultation to learn about your options and how we can help.
Common Causes and Types of Construction Zone Accidents in Tennessee
Construction zones are everywhere in Tennessee. The state is industriously keeping its roads in good repair, and motorists continue to use the highways while they are under construction. Highway work zones are hazardous due to unfamiliar lane changes, sudden stops, heavy equipment entering and exiting the zones, and altered speed limits.
Common causes and types of construction zone accidents include:
- Speeding. Drivers who ignore reduced speed limits make hazardous work zones even more dangerous. When they cause collisions, speeding drivers can harm everyone in the involved vehicles and construction zone workers in the area.
- Distracted driving. Drivers who take their focus off the task of driving, removing either their hands from the wheel, their eyes from the road, or their mind from driving, increase the risk of causing a significant accident.
- Impaired driving. People who drive while drunk or with drugs in their system are a type of loaded weapon. With their impaired ability to respond to conditions on the road, they can cause catastrophic accidents in work zones.
- Barriers placed incorrectly. If the crew that is performing the work does not place the barriers in the correct position, they can contribute to accidents. It can happen if they make the lanes too narrow or if they reduce the number of lanes too abruptly, for example.
- Inadequate signage. Highway construction sites that lack adequate warning signs can trigger severe crashes when motorists are confused about how to proceed through the work zone.
- Lack of shoulders. Construction zones often eliminate shoulders from the usable road surface. Accidents can result if a vehicle breaks down and can’t move to the shoulder to get out of traffic.
- Defective machinery. The heavy construction equipment used in road construction zones can break down, tip, or dump loads, all of which can result in significant injuries to nearby people, whether they’re construction zone workers or in vehicles. This is especially dangerous when large commercial trucks are operating in or passing through the work zone.
In any of these or similar situations, you need a Tennessee work zone car accident attorney to pursue the compensation you need after a work zone accident.
Who Is Liable When a Crash Happens in a Work Zone?
Numerous parties could be liable for collisions that happen in work zones. A few examples of potentially liable parties include:
- Construction companies
- Drivers
- Contractors
- Subcontractors
- Engineering companies
- Equipment manufacturers
What Compensation May Be Available After a Construction Zone Crash?
Whether you were injured as a driver or a passenger in a construction zone crash, or even if you were a construction zone worker who was injured because someone other than your employer caused an accident that injured you, you can seek compensation from the at-fault party. Our lawyers for car crashes in a construction zone in TN can handle all the details of your case.
You could get money for all your accident-related costs, including:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost income, including tips, bonuses, commissions, and overtime
- Future lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Disfigurement
- Permanent impairment
- Property replacement or repair
How Tennessee’s Comparative Fault Law Affects Your Claim
Tennessee law allows people who were partly to blame for the accident that injured them to obtain compensation for their injuries if they were less than 50 percent responsible. People who are less than 50 percent responsible may receive compensation, but their percentage of fault will reduce their award.
For example, if a court finds that you were 20 percent responsible for the construction zone accident that injured you, and they award you $100,000 for your compensable losses, you could receive only $80,000. A Tennessee personal injury lawyer at The Terry Law Firm can explain how this rule applies to your specific case.
The comparative fault law binds courts, but insurance companies are also guided by it when determining how much to offer in a settlement.
Reasons to Choose Our Experienced Work Zone Accident Lawyers
When you have been injured in a work zone accident, you should not try to navigate the legal system on your own. You need our Tennessee work zone accident injury lawyers to handle your case for you so you can focus on healing. At The Terry Law Firm, we have more than 60 years of experience in handling cases for people who were injured by others.
We are a family firm, and we focus on personal service. We respond quickly to emails and voicemails from our clients, and we make it a priority to know our clients and greet them by name. We are a small-town firm with big-city skills and resources. We aspire to provide top-quality legal representation and outstanding customer service.
When you hire our firm, we can:
- Investigate the accident
- Gather evidence
- Identify all potentially liable parties
- Investigate the available insurance policy limits
- Assess the full value of your claim
- Negotiate liens with healthcare providers
- Send a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurance company
- Negotiate for an appropriate settlement
- File a lawsuit to protect your right to go to trial
- Represent you at trial if no settlement can be reached
Talk to a Tennessee Construction Zone Accident Lawyer at The Terry Law Firm
If you got hurt in a motor vehicle accident in a construction zone, you need our Tennessee construction zone crash attorneys. When you work with The Terry Law Firm, we will be your advocate and fight for the money you deserve for the harm that someone else caused.
Some people worry that they can’t afford a lawyer. At The Terry Law Firm, we work on contingency. That means you pay us nothing up front. We get our fee as an agreed-upon percentage of your compensation at the end of your personal injury lawsuit. The arrangement aligns our goals. If you don’t get paid, neither do we.
Contact our office today for your free case evaluation with an experienced personal injury attorney.