Road Construction Accidents

Massachusetts road construction accidents endanger motorists and state and local road crews alike. Construction zone accidents in Boston and elsewhere in Massachusetts can be prevented when motorists put safety first, use common sense and follow the state's Move Over law.

The Boston road construction accident attorneys at the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers understand the risks. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration reports transportation accidents account for two-fifths of the nation's work-related deaths. More than 1,100 die every year in highway accidents. Nowhere is that risk greater than in road construction zones.

Each year, nearly 1,000 workers die in highway construction zone accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Properly establishing highway construction zones is critical to the safety of workers and motorists alike. Proper signage and construction of adequate transition and termination zones are important safety considerations. Reduced speeds, adequate signage and barriers and police presence may also assist in reducing accident risks.

More than 40,000 people are seriously injured in road construction accidents each year. Please do your part to stay safe.

Equally critical is awareness and adherence to proper safety measure on the part of the motoring public. Primary and secondary accidents often occur when a motorist strikes a police vehicle or other safety vehicle pulled over at the side of the road. The Massachusetts Slow Down and Move Over law provides for fines of up to $100 for motorists who do not slow down for police or emergency vehicles with activated lights.

Work zone safety tips from the Federal Highway Administration:

• Stay Alert: Construction zones typically slow and alter the flow of traffic, which can increase the risk of an accident. Uneven road surfaces and slow moving construction vehicles also create risk.
• Pay Attention: Flaggers, road workers, law enforcement officers and other crew members may be in the road. External distractions abound. Shut off your radio, block out other distractions, and concentrate on driving.
• Turn on Headlights: Using your lights helps make you more visible and may help keep other drivers focused on safety.
• Don't Tailgate: Following too closely is always a bad idea. But that's particularly true in construction zones.
• Don't Speed: Speeding reduces your reaction time.
• Expect the Unexpected: Construction zones are full of surprises. Keeping your eyes on the road, allowing plenty of following distance and reducing speed will provide additional reaction time.
• Be Patient: As frustrating as it is, road crews are working hard to make tomorrow's Massachusetts commute better, faster and safer. Give them a break. And give yourself a break. Slow down, don't change lanes, and follow the traffic in front of you.

If your or a loved one is injured in a road construction accident in Massachusetts, contact the Boston personal injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers today for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

Boston Injury Lawyer - (617) 777-7777 -- Free Consultation