Interstate 70 runs through Colorado, and is a segment of the nation’s first interstate highway. With such a prominent place in cross-country motor vehicle travel, the state has seemingly embarked on a never-ending expansion project that will not be over before it’s time to begin again.
The Denver Injury Lawyers at Rosenthal & Heymann represent motorists and construction workers who are seriously injured or killed in Colorado construction accidents.
Construction zone accidents are prevalent throughout the country, and most often occur when motorists do not expect to encounter an orange-vested flagman, a 3-ton dump truck or a crane dangling over the highway in front of them. Their reactions, or lack thereof, can result in a life-altering accident that could severely injure or even take the life of a road construction worker or motorist.
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Colorado Construction Safety Tips
Here are some ways to reduce your risk of an accident while driving through a roadway construction zone:
• Drive with your headlights on for greater visibility
• Always adhere to the posted speed limit
• Stay alert for the proximity of workers and equipment near the roadway
• Keep your focus on the road – avoid using your cell phone and other distractions
• Add some extra distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you
Source: Federal Highway Administration
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Unfortunately, the majority of drivers fail to slow down to the posted speed limit when traveling through construction zones – it’s little wonder why highway construction zone workers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
Colorado construction zone accidents killed 11 people in 2008. Nationwide, 720 people were killed that year. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a Colorado construction zone accident, your selection of legal representation could prove to be the most important decision of your life.
In recent years, state departments of transportation have begun posting signs notifying drivers that the penalties for speeding through a work zone are more severe if workers are present. Other safety improvements include electronic signs displaying the driver’s speed.
Unfortunately, those measures have fallen short of making an impact on passing motorists. Some work zones even post state or county police vehicles, lights flashing, near the beginning of a construction zone, which is thought to be the most effective method of alerting drivers to slow down and use extra caution.
If you have suffered an injury in a Colorado highway construction accident, the law firm of Rosenthal & Heymann offers free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights.
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