We all know that driving is dangerous and that an accident can happen at any time. But did you know that crash rates in active work zones are estimated to be 21.5% higher? It’s true, and this is one of the reasons drivers must slow down when entering a road work area.

If you regularly drive, you may have seen or encountered a close call in a work zone or worse.

The reason work zones tend to lead to more near misses and accidents is that they often disrupt the flow of traffic. Whether it’s the speed change, a lane closure, narrow lanes, or poor visibility, these disruptions tend to catch some drivers off guard.

Below, we dig into work zones and tractor-trailer accidents. Specifically, we discuss frequency, damage caused, common injuries, and legal implications as they relate to large truck accidents in work zones. Furthermore, we explore how victims of semi-truck accidents can seek justice.

semi truck passing through work zone

Work Zone Truck Accident Statistics

As mentioned, accidents are more common during work zone periods compared to non-work zone periods. Even more frightening is that large trucks make up about 26.4% of all work zone collisions, 15% of which lead to injury. And sadly, 33% of fatal accidents in work zones involved at least one large truck.

Here are a few more work zone accident figures to consider:

  1. 37,701 people injured in 2022 (NSC)
  2. 850-900 deaths each year (NSC)
  3. 54 people are killed every year who’ve been struck by a vehicle. (NSC)
  4. 30% of fatal crashes (2020-2022) involved a commercial motor vehicle, and just 13% of fatal accidents outside of work zones involved a CMV. (DOT)
  5. 35% of injuries are due to being struck by an object, truck, or mobile equipment, while 20% result from a slip or fall. (Wikipedia)
highway work zone with cars and large trucks driving by

Why Work Zone Accidents Are Common

Physical Challenges in Work Zones

Road construction zones can be tricky to navigate, especially if they’re larger or if it’s your first time driving through it. For truckers, there can be additional challenges, including:

#1 Narrow Lanes

For regular cars, narrowing lanes don’t often pose too much of a challenge. However, for truck drivers, the reduced road width can be much harder to drive through–potentially causing the vehicle to go off the road.

#2 Lane Merging

If lanes merge leading to a work zone, a driver might not see a smaller vehicle attempting to get in front of his truck. Or they may not understand where a lane ends, and a new one starts due to temporary lines–perhaps made worse due to poor weather conditions.

#3 Uneven Surfacing

If the road is made of gravel or an uneven surface, it can more easily destabilize a big rig–namely those carrying heavy loads.

#4 Visibility

Although semi-truck drivers often have one of the best views of the road, there are visibility challenges. Keeping track of other motorists becomes harder due to mirror limitations, temporary signs, barriers, and construction vehicles.

#5 Stop & Go

Congested freeways often lead to accidents, and work zones cause a lot of stop-and-go traffic. One driver not paying attention can lead to a multi-car accident.

#6 Confusing Layout

If it’s your first time driving through a new work zone, it’s easy to get confused as to which lane you need to be in. Last-second lane changes are often a recipe for collisions.

Driver-Related Factors

#1 Distracted Driving

Checking a phone for one reason or another, adjusting an in-car navigation system, or not paying attention to road signs are all common ways drivers get distracted.

#2 Speeding

We’ve all heard the saying, “speed kills.” Unfortunately, it’s proven day in and day out. Speeding in a construction zone can lead to serious accidents and severe injuries.

#3 Fatigue

Mentally speaking, being tired or stressed out can lead to slower reflexes and poor decision-making.

man crossing arms standing in front of semi truck

Legal Implications of Work Zone Accidents

Liability in Work Zone Accidents

Generally speaking, in both Montana and Wyoming drivers involved in accidents are assessed a degree of fault. But if one driver’s actions lead to the incident, they are held responsible.

A truck driver is held liable when his negligent actions lead to a crash. Most commonly, speeding, distraction, or substance use lead to negligent tractor-trailer accidents.

Another party that may bear responsibility for a work zone accident is the construction company or government agency performing the work. If signage is inefficient or nonexistent, detours are too dangerous, or barriers fail to accurately guide traffic, these are all reasons to be held liable.

Read this Case Study example of a construction company using improper signage that resulted in a motorcycle crash.

Regulation Violations

Truck drivers, trucking companies, or dock loaders can bear responsibility due to negligent actions or regulation violations that lead to an accident. Here are a few examples:

Drivers are only allowed to drive for so many hours per day before they must rest. These so-called hours of service are closely regulated and tracked because overworked truckers are more likely to be involved in an accident.

Improperly secured loads are another common reason for truck accidents. Whether it’s the loading company or the driver alone, cargo must be loaded safely, secured, and kept within weight limits.

Poor driver training and lack of experience can shift liability onto the trucking company.
Unsafe equipment, such as lacking barriers to prevent cars from going underneath a trailer, can be another reason the trucking company, over the driver, is held responsible.

Role of Legal Representation

When you’ve been injured in a car accident or if there’s been a loss of life, you need legal representation. This is especially true when seeking compensation after a large truck accident.

Your lawyer diligently proves liability, negotiates with the guilty party’s insurance agency, and knows how to navigate laws.

A tractor-trailer accident attorney, in particular, understands state and federal trucking regulations. This is important for identifying violations.

injured man filing a wrongful death claim on. his laptop

Have You Been in a Truck Accident in a Work Zone?

If you’ve been involved in a truck accident, namely one that occurs in a work zone–construction, utility, or maintenance–it’s important to know why the accident occurred. The lawyers at Stinson Law Group are expert truck accident attorneys who diligently represent clients. Our law team digs deep to find out why your accident happened, who’s responsible, and how it could’ve been avoided.

With this knowledge in hand, we aggressively go after those responsible to ensure you’re compensated for lost income, pain and suffering, medical bills, and any other costs associated with your accident.

Give us a call today to discuss your case so you can fully assess your options.

Read More Legal Articles

Interested in learning about Wyoming and Montana laws as they relate to injury, business and construction, and tractor-trailer accidents? If so, please read more of our resource articles.