In a busy city like Albuquerque, New Mexico, work zones are necessary to fix the roads and improve traffic infrastructure. While motorists know they should take extra precautions when driving through a work zone, only some do. Every year, work zone car crashes in Albuquerque cause countless injuries and deaths.

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in a work zone in Albuquerque, call Singleton Schreiber. You have rights as a crash victim. Our Albuquerque car accident lawyers can help you explore your options and fight for the maximum financial award you deserve.

Singleton Schreiber is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm that’s known for compassionate representation and top-tier case results. Backed by decades of collective experience, our award-winning New Mexico trial lawyers have helped clients win over $3 Billion in monetary awards.

Now, we’re here to help you take on a negligent motorist, a construction company, a government agency, and anyone responsible for your work zone car crash. We offer a complimentary case evaluation. Contact our Albuquerque, NM personal injury attorneys today.

How Often Do Car Accidents Happen in Work Zones?

Statistically speaking, there are 263 work zone car crashes across the nation every day. That’s 10 to 11 work zone crashes an hour.

In 2022, 96,000 work zone car accidents were recorded in the United States. These crashes caused 37,000 injuries and 891 deaths.

Commercial trucks are involved in nearly a third of all fatal work zone collisions. Most often, fatal work zone crashes occur on arterial roads and interstates, while local roads and collector roads see a fraction of these severe accidents.

Drivers of passenger vehicles account for most work zone accident fatalities, accounting for roughly two-thirds of all deaths. Pedestrians, including those working in the construction zones, comprise 15 percent of all work zone crash fatalities every year.

What Causes Most Work Zone Car Accidents in Albuquerque?

New Mexico recently launched its new work zone safety mascot, “Zippy” the roadrunner to bring awareness to work zone safety. Zippy reminds drivers to drive with caution, keep a safe following distance, stay alert, and merge properly when approaching and navigating through a work zone.

All too often, drivers ignore these warnings and make careless mistakes at the wheel that cause collisions in Albuquerque’s work zones.

Some of the most commonly reported causes of work zone car crashes include:

Improper Merging

Even if a work zone is off to the side of the road or contained in a shoulder, reducing the number of lanes that travel through the construction site is often necessary. Drivers need to merge into consolidated lanes when approaching the work zone. New Mexico advocates for the zipper merge, where vehicles take turns getting into the desired lane of traffic.

When a driver is too aggressive at the wheel, refuses to allow other cars to change lanes, or weaves in and out of traffic to get ahead, serious accidents can happen.

Speeding

Speeding can be dangerous even in the best traffic conditions. When driving through a work zone, speed kills. In fact, according to federal crash data, speeding was a factor in 34 percent of all fatal work zone accidents in 2022.

Work zone traffic lanes are often narrow and protected by cones or large cement barriers. The faster you drive, the more difficult it is to be precise. Clipping a cone or barrier can cause a car to flip or a motorist to lose control.

Distracted Driving

It’s imperative to remain alert and attentive when driving through a work zone, even if you’re moving slowly. However, drivers get bored or crave the rush of dopamine they get when scrolling social media and take their eyes off the road.

Looking away for even a second can be quite dangerous, especially if a work zone is on an arterial road. In these situations, changes in traffic are more common as vehicles enter and exit the roadway.

Drivers who are distracted might be more likely to crash into work zone barriers, hit construction workers, or crash into the vehicles in front of them.

What Type of Car Accident Happens Most Frequently in Albuquerque Work Zones?

Not surprisingly, rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident reported in work zones. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), roughly 21 percent of fatal work zone crashes in the United States are rear-end collisions.

Rear-end collisions occur when the rear of one vehicle crashes into the rear of the vehicle in front of it. These types of accidents are common in slow-moving traffic, especially when drivers are distracted, drunk, or tailgating.

Other types of crashes that can happen in Albuquerque work zones include head-on crashes (when vehicles are driven against the flow of traffic), broadside or T-bone accidents (especially when there are errors in merging), and rollovers.

What Compensation Can I Get If I’ve Been Hurt in a Work Zone Car Accident?

When someone else causes a work zone car crash in Albuquerque because they’re negligent, you’ll have the right to file a claim with their insurance company to recover compensatory damages for:

Medical bills
Lost wages
Disability
Property damage
Funeral expenses
Property damage
Pain and suffering
Loss of consortium
Reduced quality of life
Inconvenience

You can recover compensation up to the at-fault driver’s policy limits. If your damages are higher, or if someone else is liable, you can seek additional compensation through a civil car accident lawsuit.

Work Zone Car Crash Victims in Albuquerque Trust Singleton Schreiber

Since New Mexico imposes a three-year statute of limitations on most personal injury cases, you’ll have a limited time to file a car accident claim after a crash in an Albuquerque work zone. Don’t hesitate to call Singleton Schreiber to help you assert your rights and fight for maximum recovery.

Whether you’re taking on a negligent driver, a government agency, a vehicle manufacturer, or an insurance company, you can count on our Albuquerque car accident attorneys to help you every step of the way.

Your first consultation is free, so call our award-winning legal team in Albuquerque to get started today.

Work Zone Car Crashes in Albuquerque