Road Construction
Road construction can last months at a time, and since workers toil
alongside moving traffic, it is dangerous work, especially when proper warning
signs and other precautions aren’t in place.
Construction workers face a wider variety of hazards and a greater risk of
work-related injury or death than employees in any other U.S. industry. In 2005,
in 2005 the number of fatal work injuries in private construction continued to
be the most of any industry sector, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
At Gordon & Doner, P.A., we represent workers injured on road construction
sites. FDOT workers, flagmen, warning signs, proper procedural steps and other
various preventative measure must be take on every single road construction site
to help protect the public who may come across these highway construction sites.
The most common hazards facing road construction workers include:
While construction zones create additional hazards for drivers, highway workers are most at risk. Sudden stops, dirt and mud, poor highway conditions, driver stress and frustration, inadequate highway markings and the lack of an escape route due to barricades and heavy equipment help create a recipe for disaster in construction zones.
Gordon & Doner attorneys understand road construction workers may be able to sue the construction company, its agents and contractors for all damages sustained by virtue of any physical harm that has occurred to them. Such suits are permitted on behalf of injured workers, in addition to workers’ compensation benefits they may have received. Unlike workers’ compensation – where an owner, agent or contractor is negligent or liable by statute -- recovery can also be made for past and future lost earnings, pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses, loss of benefits, and many other types of damages.
Many states have enacted laws that allow judges to double or triple speeding fines in construction zones. Florida law states that for exceeding the speed limit in a construction zone (except for speeds less than 5 MPH over the posted limit where only a warning is issued), the fine is double the amount in the fine schedule.
Like most states, Florida has enacted special statutes to protect workers involved in construction related accidents. These statutes exist because no matter how stringent the regulations concerning job safety, workers are at risk on a daily basis because of the inherently dangerous nature of their jobs.
No matter the cause of the road construction site injury, it is critical that you do not delay in making a decision to retain legal counsel so that your attorney can obtain access to the construction site and to witnesses as soon as possible.
If you have been injured in a road construction-related accident, please contact us. At Gordon & Doner, we believe our system of justice works best when skilled attorneys that have the resources to fully prepare and try a case represent both sides. Please complete our online contact form or call us toll free at 1-888-ForTheInjured (1-888-367-8434).
