New York roadway work zones a hotbed for auto accidents

New York roadways need maintenance, repairs and improvements to operate at optimal efficiency and to be safe. That requires workers to be stationed near these areas where vehicles are moving back and forth at great speed. Since many drivers ignore the speed limits in general, they will also continue past work zones well beyond the posted limits and orders to slow down. Combining that with the litany of available distractions and it puts the pieces in place for auto accidents with the chance of injuries and death. This can affect workers, drivers and passengers in myriad ways and it is wise to be aware of them.

National Work Zone Awareness Week highlights the dangers

Given the risk work zones present, National Work Zone Awareness Week is designed to emphasize the possibility for auto accidents in these areas and prevent them. Anecdotal evidence from workers and initiatives from New York State serve as evidence of the problem. One worker recounted a story where he and colleagues were working on a road close to Albany. They spotted a speeding vehicle behind them and were hit. In that accident, no one was hurt. In other crashes of this kind, people are not so lucky.

To address the challenge, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and other entities wanted to have speed cameras installed. Now, that will come to pass as a pilot program to track and cite drivers who exceed the speed limit in work zones, putting people in jeopardy. This will combine with law enforcement vigilance to catch drivers and stop them when they are speeding, driving recklessly or are distracted.

Even with enforcement and education, work zones are dangerous places

With the statistics in 2021 alone saying there were 50 injuries and over 200 accidents in state work zones, these steps are a long time in coming. Still, despite the best intentions and the chance that drivers will get the message and slow down, work zone crashes are still likely to occur. Workers are inherently vulnerable and their injuries can be catastrophic.

When people have been injured in these types of auto accidents, it can be financially, personally and professionally challenging for the long-term. Those who have lost a loved one will need to try and get beyond the unexpected and unnecessary loss. The case must be fully analyzed to decide what to do. Having help gathering evidence and moving forward with a claim can be essential to cover for all that was lost.