Work Zone Car Crashes in Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa experiences heavy traffic every day as thousands of people navigate the city’s streets. This causes a lot of wear and tear on its roads and highways. As a result, there are times when the government has to do repairs or improve the infrastructure in some way.

To do this, workers must shut down lanes of traffic and establish work zones.

Work zones can create hazards for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and anyone else trying to navigate a Santa Rosa road. These hazards, if not navigated safely, can cause serious work zone car crashes in Santa Rosa.

How Common Are Work Zone Accidents?

Very. There are an estimated 96,000 work zone traffic accidents across the nation every year. According to federal crash data, 37,701 people were injured in work zone car accidents in 2022. Another 891 people died in fatal work zone collisions that year.

On average, work zones contribute to 103 injuries and 2.4 fatalities every day.

Statistically speaking, construction sites are the most dangerous type of work zones, accounting for nearly 60 percent of all fatal work zone crashes.

Why Are Work Zones Dangerous?

A work zone will change how traffic has to navigate a particular road or highway in Santa Rosa. Lane closures mean that vehicles must consolidate into fewer lanes. Many times, drivers have difficulty merging when approaching a work zone. Aggressive behaviors - like speeding, driving down closed lanes, and refusing to allow other vehicles to merge - increase the chances of a collision.

Once vehicles have merged into their reduced lanes, they must navigate the work zone itself. This means driving slowly and navigating the barriers that protect workers and machinery. Accidents are prone to happen here when drivers are rubbernecking, driving too fast through the work zone, or are distracted at the wheel.

What Kind of Car Accidents Happen in Santa Rosa Work Zones?

While any type of collision can happen in a work zone in Santa Rosa, the most common include:

Rear-End Collisions

Many times, work zones are plagued by stop-and-go traffic. Drivers who are distracted might not realize that the traffic in front of them has slowed to a stop. The result: they slam into the rear of the vehicle they’re following.

Side Impact Collisions

Side impact collisions - especially sideswipes - are common in work zones when vehicles are merging into a single lane of traffic. If drivers fail to communicate with one another, use turn signals, and/or yield the right of way, it’s common for one car to scrape the side of another.

Singleton Schreiber Can Help You Seek Damages After a Work Zone Car Crash in Santa Rosa, CA

Work zones can be navigated safely when drivers use caution and follow posted signage. Accidents happen when drivers are negligent and rush through work zones. If you’ve been injured in a car accident at a Santa Rosa work zone, you can hold the negligent driver accountable for your medical bills, loss of income, property damage, pain and suffering, and other crash-related damages.

At Singleton Schreiber, our award-winning Santa Rosa, CA car accident attorneys can help you assert your rights and fight for a maximum financial recovery.

Our local lawyers and national resources have helped clients win billions. Discover the impact we can have on your life after a work zone collision by calling our Santa Rosa law office today.