You may feel as if you encounter road construction around just about every corner of the state in Montana, and as communities continue to experience regular growth, there will also continue to be a need for new roads and related infrastructure to support them. Unfortunately, many motorists find navigating their way through construction zones to be difficult, and this is one of many reasons why work zones are hotbeds for car crashes and associated injuries.
Per the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, the number of people losing their lives in work zone-related car wrecks is on the rise, with the total number of work zone road deaths increasing from 782 in 2016 to 799 in 2017. While, overall, this amounts to an increase of 2 percent, the number of pedestrians and bicyclists losing their lives in the nation’s construction zones increased 9 percent during that same period.
There are a number of contributing factors that, together, make work zones particularly hazardous for motorists. Changes in traffic patterns can prove confusing for some drivers who are accustomed to routine and moving about in a particular manner, and the sheer presence of trucks and equipment used in these areas can also present visual obstructions for motorists. Furthermore, while speeding increases the risk of a car crash regardless of where a speeding driver is traveling, speeding in work zones appears to be particularly problematic, with speed playing a role in more than 200 fatal work zone crashes in 2017.
This information about the risks you face driving through work zones is educational in nature and is not a replacement for legal advice.
At Colton Holm Law Firm, we look forward to learning how we can help you resolve your legal concern.Call us today: (406) 259-9986