Vehicle Accidents Involving Construction Sites in Mercedes TX

Construction site accidents are a common predicament, resulting in injuries or fatalities every day in Texas. Non-working pedestrians or motorists deserve compensation for their injuries when a worker in a construction vehicle is at fault. An experienced Mercedes, TX, personal injury lawyer can help these victims recover financially from the construction accident.

Construction site accident cases may involve multiple parties, including a driver, construction company, government entity, or vehicle manufacturer. The Mercedes TX injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw are skilled at identifying all liable parties and ensuring you can hold them accountable. Nobody should have to suffer financially because of someone else’s negligence.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), 77% of Texas work zone fatalities in 2023 were non-working drivers and passengers. However, most of these accidents were with other private passenger vehicles, caused by tailgating, unsafe lane changes, and distracted driving.

Workers driving construction vehicles may also cause accidents with people traveling through the work zone. Common causes of Mercedes construction site accidents with non-workers include:

• Negligence: Distracted driving, speeding, and other unsafe equipment handling
• Poor visibility: Large construction rigs have blind spots and dust or poor weather can cloud visibility
• Faulty equipment: Steering, brakes, or other equipment failure
• Poor training: Drivers may lack training in safety protocols
• Insecure loads: Improper loading can cause tip-over accidents

The design of the work zone is also a factor in construction zone accidents in Mercedes Texas. Engineers, contractors, supervisors, flaggers, and governmental agencies all aid in safe work zone design and implementation. Failure to perform their duties securely can contribute to a construction accident.

Construction vehicles include work trucks and passenger vehicles used on the work site. Heavy equipment can also cause accidents with catastrophic injuries. Examples of possible construction vehicles in an accident with a non-worker include:

• Excavators
• Dump trucks
• Backhoes
• Cranes
• Pavers
• Road rollers
• Bucket trucks
• Concrete mixers
• Forklifts

Especially in roadside construction, these vehicles work near pedestrians and motorists trying to navigate the construction zone. This through traffic is often stressed about the work zone delays or confused about navigating the construction zone, which increases the risk of an accident.

Accident injuries in a Mercedes construction site may be worse than those outside of work zones because of the heavy equipment involved or the narrow corridors for travel that provide no escape from hazardous conditions. Speeding or inattentive driving can worsen accident victims' injuries, which is why the construction zones have reduced speed limits.

Despite safety measures, the injuries in car accidents on construction sites can be severe, such as:

• Head and face injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Internal organ damage
• Death

These injuries cause economic and noneconomic damages; if another party’s negligence caused the injuries, they must compensate the victim.

The liable party in a construction site accident had a duty to uphold and neglected to do so, which caused the injuries to the victim. The court must affirm all 5 components of negligence to award compensation. A lawyer may find that multiple parties meet the requirements for negligence, in which case the court will divide the liability proportionately.

Texas is a modified comparative negligence state, meaning plaintiffs can sue for damages even if they are partially at fault. Discussing this possibility with an attorney is essential in making good decisions about accepting settlement offers versus taking a case to trial.

At Carabin Shaw, our team values fair compensation for our clients, and we encourage potential clients to read our client reviews from satisfied accident victims. We put our clients’ needs first to get the compensation they deserve.

Call our toll-free number today at 800-862-1260 to schedule a free consultation. We offer our services on a contingency-fee-basis to assist you with legal fees. At Carabin Shaw, someone is available to speak with you 24/7. We have English- AND Spanish-speaking staff, so you can begin your legal journey easily.

For more information:

• Texas Statutes 101
• TX DoT
• FHWA