Road Work Dangers in West Sacramento
Road work dangers were brought to the forefront when a Caltrans employee was critically injured on December 7 by an out-of-control vehicle along West Sacramento’s I-80. The worker was identified as Gary Morin, age 32, who is currently being treated in the unit for intensive care at UC Davis Medical Center. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the driver of the vehicle suffered minor injuries and was taken to the same hospital for treatment.
Details of the Accident
According to the police report, the accident happened when a man driving a Ford van near Enterprise Drive realized he needed to change lanes to take the I-80 ramp east toward Reno. In changing from the number three lane to the number four, his van hit a semi that occupied that lane. The initial accident caused the driver of the van to lose control, and the vehicle spun right toward the shoulder of the road where it struck Morin and his work truck. The van then continued on until it struck an electrical pole and the sound wall. After having been struck by the vehicle and lying prostrate on the ground, Morin was then hit by the light pole, which added to his already serious injuries. Caltrans has established a GoFundMe site to help with the expenses for Morin.
Road Work Dangers Faced by Employees
Road workers face dangers daily as they go about doing their jobs. From accidents with machinery, the risk of falls and environmental hazards to passing cars and trucks, fatalities and serious injuries continue to happen. According to the Federal Highway Administration, in one year alone 87,000 accidents were reported in construction zones that injured drivers and/or road workers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 1,571 road workers lost their lives between 2003 and 2015, which averages about 121 each year. California reported 6,525 crashes in work zones along California’s highways in 2014, which is the latest year where statistics were provided.
Road Work Dangers and Safety
Caltrans is responsible for about 50,000 miles of roadway, 12,000 bridges, 30,000 acres of landscaping and work in many other areas designed to provide motorists with a safe and well-maintained environment. Motorists can help ensure a safe working environment for Caltrans’ employees by observing the following:
- Signs and flag operators are at construction zones for a reason. Pay close attention to signage and directions by flaggers to help avoid road work dangers.
- If a motorist sees flashing amber lights, they are required by law to move over to a different lane.
- Don’t wait until the last minute to merge. Merging early can help avoid road work dangers and accidents.
- Many construction zone accidents are caused by speeding. Don’t do it. Slow down while passing through construction areas.
- Avoid distracted driving. When a motorist is passing a construction area or road workers, this is not the time to change a radio station.
- Keep an adequate distance from the vehicle in front while driving through a construction area. Usually, if a vehicle stops short and another car crashes into it, it means the second driver was tailgating.
Distracted Driving Is a Critical Road Work Danger
Five hundred fatalities have occurred in work zones over the past five years because of distracted driving. In 2016, truck-related fatal crashes in construction zones due to distraction while driving escalated to 27 percent. Overall, rear-end crashes are the most common. The facts suggest that drivers are not alert to changes in the traffic flow. By obeying the rules of the road and staying focused, drivers can avoid many road construction accidents.
West Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a West Sacramento personal injury lawyer. Our road workers perform the valuable service of maintaining our state’s roadways to make them safe for motorists and others. If you or a loved one were injured in an accident because of a negligent driver, I would like to offer you free and friendly advice. Please call me at (916) 921-6400 in West Sacramento at (800) 404-5400 if you are calling from elsewhere in Northern California. An online contact form at my website, AutoAccident.com, is also available for your use.
It can be a difficult decision to decide which injury lawyer to call for advice when you need help, but this can be easier if you look over client reviews and past cases handled by the law firm. You can see mine at the following links:
I’m a Million Dollar Advocates member of California. This forum was established to recognize trial lawyers who have obtained more than $1 million in either a verdict or a settlement for a client.
In my 36 years as an injury lawyer, I’ve represented many people from West Sacramento and Northern California to help them obtain fair compensation for their injuries in areas such as all types of car accidents, wrongful deaths, and brain injuries.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/asphalt-construction-road-work-3431322/
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