As a construction worker or the family member of a construction worker, it’s important that you understand the risks of your job or the risks faced by your loved ones. Construction accidents can take place anywhere, whether your loved one works on the roads or not. However, highway work zones can be particularly dangerous. Drivers who don’t stop or slow down can collide with construction workers, causing serious injuries to those who survive. Others may not be so fortunate.
What percent of crashes involve work zones?
Out of the crashes recorded in 2010, 87,606 were in work zones. That’s 1.6 percent of all roadway crashes. In total, there were 5,419,345 crashes that year.
Do most crashes lead to fatalities?
Surprisingly, most crashes don’t lead to fatalities, but they can lead to injuries and other issues. In the 2010 data, the crashes that took place in work zones were fatal in 0.6 percent of the cases. Another 30 percent of crashes involved personal injuries.
When do most crashes take place?
Many crashes that take place happen during the day. Road construction fatalities are most likely to happen then because workers are present on the scene. Around 70 percent of the documented fatalities on the data sheet for 2003 through 2007 involved crashes between 8:00 a.m. and 4:59 p.m.
If you or a loved one is hurt in a construction accident, you may be able to seek out workers’ compensation among other forms of compensation. This can help you cover medical bills and other costs while you or your loved one recovers.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, “Facts and Statistics – Work Zone Injuries and Fatalities,” accessed May 24, 2016