In April 2014, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation reported that more drivers in Oklahoma are involved in work zone accidents, and many of them are occurring in construction zones. Officials attribute this increase to more bridge and road construction across the state, and troopers assert that failing to pay attention in a work zone could be a costly and potentially fatal mistake. This statement comes on the heels of the start of the National Work Zone Awareness Week, an event created to promote safety to both motorists and workers in these areas.
If you or someone you love live in Oklahoma and you have been injured in a highway work zone accident, whether as a driver or as a worker, contact Attorney Group for Oklahoma today to learn more about your legal rights. You may be entitled to recover damages for your condition.
National Work Zone Awareness Week
National Work Zone Awareness Week is scheduled to take place from April 7-11, 2014 and is designed to bring national attention to the safety and mobility of motorists and workers in work zones. The “kick-off” event will begin on April 7, 2014 in Seattle, Washington.
While many states may hold their own events for the National Work Zone Awareness Week, this year’s theme, “Work Zone Speed: A Costly Mistake,” highlights the consequences and risks of failing to slow down and maintain a safe speed while traveling through work zones. Speeding can result in fines, jail time, injuries or fatalities in these areas so, by highlighting these impacts, officials hope that the National Work Zone Awareness Week will inform both workers and motorists of the dangers and encourage them to pay attention, slow down and be safe when driving through work zones.
Accidents on the Rise
According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and ODOT, nearly 1,000 workers and drivers in the state were injured in work zone accidents in 2013. Of those, 17 were killed. While officials hope that the National Work Zone Awareness Week will bring attention to safety in work zones, they also assert that motorists will become more aware of the steep fines for breaking the law in construction zones.
Officials say work zones will only slow motorists down an average of up to three minutes – a small price to pay to avoid a costly mistake such as a work zone accident. Additionally, troopers maintain that if drivers are unaware that they will be traveling into a work zone, then they should not be operating the car at all. The flags, lights and various signs exist to warn drivers ahead of time of an upcoming construction area to reduce the risk of a work zone accident.
The National Work Zone Awareness Week will highlight these factors and remind motorists to turn on their headlights in work zones, to stay off of their cell phones or other media devices and to avoid driving too closely to the car ahead of them.
Have You Been Injured in a Work Zone Accident in Oklahoma?
If you or someone you love has been involved in a work zone accident in Oklahoma due the negligence of another person, you may consider seeking legal counsel from an experienced attorney. Attorney Group for Oklahoma offers free, no-obligation consultations to those who feel as though they may have a valid claim. We can review your work zone accident case and connect you with an affiliated attorney who can assist you in filing your lawsuit and work to help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled. You may be eligible to recover damages for pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses.
