Road construction work zones in Illinois are dangerous places to be in. Over 4,300 accidents occurred in work zones last years. There were 46 people who died in motor vehicle accidents in those areas.
While the highway construction industry, the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois Tollway, and the Illinois State Police are raising awareness of safe driving in work zones, tailgating continues to be a common cause of motor vehicle accidents in these areas. Work zone accident prevention tips include:
— Slowing down.
— Avoiding distracted driving.
— Avoiding tailgating.
— Watching for workers.
— Moving over for emergency vehicles.
The state police recently issued a warning to drivers in Henry County, saying that the work zone area on Interstate 80 between mile markers 18 and 35 has had a high number of crashes, including an accident that sent seven victims to the hospital. The troopers are in the area with the hope of making the work zone safer, but hope that drivers will put safe driving practices to use.
As a worker, if you have been injured in a work zone accident, you have right to seek workers’ compensation benefits for your injuries, lost wages and more. If you are the family member of someone killed while working in a road construction zone, you may be entitled to death benefits. In addition, victims and their families may also be able to seek compensation from the at-fault driver. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can provide you with all of your legal options and guidance on how to proceed.
Source: kwqc.com, “Illinois State Police warn of I-80 work zone accidents,” Jeff Whitten, July 14, 2016
