Construction Zone Accidents

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Construction Zone Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Los Angeles

Construction Zone Motorcycle Accident

Why do You Need a Reliable Attorney?

Motorcycle riders are often challenged with the dangers of riding through construction zones, where they may encounter a number of risks. The chances that a motorcyclist may suffer a severe injury from a collision with another motor vehicle or even the pavement, are higher.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle accident while riding through a construction zone, you may be eligible for compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering. Consulting with an experienced Los Angeles construction zone motorcycle accident attorney will help you understand exactly what type of monetary damages you are entitled to. The dedicated team at our Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Attorney’s office will help you build you a strong case and recover the maximum compensation you deserve.

What Are Common Causes of Motorcycle Construction Accidents?

Obstacles faced by motorcycle riders while driving through construction zones include reduced lanes, uneven roads, negligent road construction, and increased traffic. These conditions can easily cause a motorcycle crash. Riders may suffer fractured or broken bones, or a more catastrophic injury such as a traumatic brain injury or a spinal cord injury, as a result of the motorcycle collision.

Although there are a number of reasons why a rider may experience an accident while driving in a construction zone, the following are the most common causes:

  • Distracted driving
    Whether riding a motorcycle or driving a car, motorists tend to get distracted while on the road. Typically, individuals driving through a traffic-ridden construction zone use the opportunity to answer a text or make a phone call. In the seconds they look away, they may collide with a motorcycle, causing an accident and potential injury.
  • Speeding
    Typically, when a motorist fails to acknowledge, or disregards, the temporary signs posted at a construction zone, they may be driving at a faster speed than the vehicles surrounding them. A driver that is speeding in a construction zone can rear-end an unsuspecting motorcycle rider, causing a crash and serious injury.
  • Loose gravel and debris
    More often than not, roads that are under construction, or near construction zones, can be rough and uneven. The loose gravel, soil, sand, debris, and long grooves found in construction zones can very easily cause a motorcycle rider to lose control of their bike, leading to an accident.
  • Road barriers
    Road barriers are physical barriers that are placed in construction zones in order to keep vehicles within a certain roadway. Although they are useful for cars, they can cause injury to a motorcycle rider in a construction zone accident.
  • Pooled water
    Pools of water are common causes of construction zone motorcycle accidents. These puddles on the road can hide potential hazards such as manhole covers, potholes, and debris, which may cause riders to lose control of their bikes.
  • Uneven pavement
    Uneven, or unfinished paving and road drop-offs can make it especially difficult for a motorcyclist to maneuver through traffic in a construction zone. The steel plates that are often used to temporarily cover holes in the road can become slippery when wet, and the uneven paving can cause a rider to lose control and strike the pavement.
  • Tailgating
    Motorists who want the cars in front of them to drive faster tend to follow other vehicles or motorcycles too closely. Tailgating a motorcyclist in a construction zone can cause serious injury because the rider can easily be rear-ended and thrown off of their bike.
  • Travel lane splits, shifts, and merges
    Changing traffic patterns are a common cause of motorcycle accidents in construction zones. Lane splitting, shifting, and merging of traffic can create a bottleneck. If cars are going too fast, or don’t stop quickly enough, they may collide with a motorcycle rider.
  • Improper road signs
    Construction zones must have the proper barrels, cones, and work zone signs indicating that construction is taking place. Road signs that are hidden, missing, or not marked properly may be cause for a motorcycle rider to suffer an accident.
  • Construction workers
    Oftentimes, construction workers direct, or work in close proximity to, oncoming traffic in a construction zone. This poses a danger to motorcyclists, because they may get into a car accident while trying to avoid hitting a worker who is in or near their path.

Who Is Liable for the Road Hazards?

Generally, road hazards are caused by a particular person or entity, commonly due to negligence. If the hazard is a direct result of the construction taking place or poor road conditions, then the driver is not likely to be held liable. Instead, the state, city, or construction company involved will be responsible for the damages caused by a motorcycle accident in a construction zone. The dedicated team of experts at our Los Angeles construction zone motorcycle accident attorney’s office will help injured motorcyclists determine who is at fault.

Construction Company Liability

Whether working on roads or highways, construction companies are responsible for keeping construction zones hazard-free. Construction site managers are also required to post the necessary signs in sites designated for construction. If the company fails to do so, they may be deemed liable for the damages caused as a result of their negligence.

Examples of construction company negligence in a construction zone motorcycle accident include:

  • Inaccurate, improperly placed, or lack of warning and detour signs
  • Operating of equipment in areas that block the view of the road ahead
  • Heavy equipment and tools left on the road, creating a hazard for drivers
  • Failed to provide workers who can direct traffic
  • Failed to properly mark lanes
  • Failed to mark hazardous areas, such as potholes, creating dangerous roads
  • Failed to use adequate warning lights while operating equipment at night

Driver Liability

Although construction zone motorcycle accidents are often the result of a construction company’s negligence, there are times when a rider is partially or fully at fault.

A rider is liable if:

  • A motorcycle rider rear-ends a vehicle that is following proper traffic protocol
  • A rider becomes distracted and fails to see the posted warning signs, resulting in an accident
  • A motorcycle collides with a properly placed warning sign or construction equipment
  • A rider becomes confused by detour signs and rear-ends a vehicle

What Steps Should You Take After a Motorcycle Accident in a Construction Zone?

Following a motorcycle accident in a construction zone, motorcyclists may be in serious physical and emotional pain. Trying to figure out what to do right after the accident might be difficult, but there are certain steps you should take in order to increase your chances of recovering maximum compensation:

  • Seek medical care
    Depending on the severity of your motorcycle accident injury, you may be feeling severe pain or no pain at all. In either case, it is important that you seek medical care. Oftentimes, the adrenaline and shock of the accident may be masking your pain and injuries.
  • File a police report
    After calling the police, provide a thorough account of when, how, and why the accident took place. Ask for a copy of the police report, as your motorcycle construction accident lawyer will need one when filing for compensation.
  • State only the facts
    When discussing the construction accident with others, including the negligent driver or police, don’t admit fault or apologize – state only the facts.
  • Obtain contact information
    Prior to leaving the scene of the accident, it is important to swap contact information with the negligent driver, construction worker, and potential witnesses.
  • Witness statements and taking photos
    Witness statements and photos of any and all damages and injuries caused by the accident will help strengthen your case and may be useful for trial.
  • Save your clothes
    Saving the clothes that you were wearing during the motorcycle accident may be valuable to your case, or necessary for trial.
  • Do not sign any documents
    It is important that motorcycle riders remember not to sign any documents, whether medical or legal, without first consulting with an accident attorney.
  • Do not provide the other driver’s insurance company with a recorded statement
    You are not obligated to give the negligent driver’s insurance company a statement. Before providing a statement, consult with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer.
  • Retain a motorcycle accident attorney
    A knowledgeable motorcycle injury lawyer can help you easily navigate the process of filing a motorcycle accident personal injury claim. They will help build you a strong case and negotiate your settlement for you.

Contact an Experienced Los Angeles Motorcycle Injury Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle accident while driving in a construction zone, it is crucial that you contact a motorcycle injury attorney immediately. Following an accident, motorcyclists may be in serious physical and emotional pain. Figuring out your next move, and who is liable, might seem impossible. Our law firm here to help you win your motorcycle accident case.

Unfortunately, insurance companies tend to only reimburse a partial amount of your motorcycle accident claim. They will offer you the bare minimum in terms of compensation. The dedicated team at our Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorney office is comprised of experts in personal injury law. A motorcycle accident victim can rely on us to aggressively fight for their rights and recover the maximum compensation injured riders deserve.

Our experienced Los Angeles construction zone motorcycle accident injury attorney offers a free consultation, and our team works on a contingent fee basis, which means that there are no fees unless your case is resolved – we win when you win. Please contact our product safety lawyers at your earliest convenience to set up a free consultation, or speak to a representative, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. For immediate assistance, call us at (213) 943-8033.

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If you or someone you love has been involved in a motorcycle accident, we are here to offer our legal advice and information about motorcycle accident law in California. Please contact our office for more information.

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