Posted in Pedestrian Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on April 15, 2016
AT&T Worker Seriously Injured during Work Zone Accident
A worker with AT&T was injured on Wednesday after he was struck by a trailer that was pushed into him by another vehicle.
According to a report by WKRN.com, the man was doing work in Franklin that required the closure of the left lane of Murfreesboro Road. AT&T had hired a private security company to protect the work zone while employees worked in the area.
While the work was in progress, a driver left the Yorktown Subdivision near the work zone and turned onto Murfreesboro Road and then struck a trailer.
The impact of the collision caused the trailer to be pushed into the direction of the worker before ultimately striking him and pinning him underneath an AT&T truck. The worker suffered serious injuries and was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to receive treatment. His identity hasn’t been released, and his current condition is unknown at this time.
Officers with the Franklin Police Department say that the vehicles driven by the private security guards who were assigned to protect the work zone weren’t marked and didn’t use flashing lights to alert drivers of the work zone area.
3 Keys to Safe Driving in Work Zones
Work zones can represent serious risks for both drivers and the workers who are present in these areas. Because they often involve lane closures, split lanes, and winding lanes, drivers may find it more difficult to navigate through these areas, creating a higher risk of accidents that involve other drivers and workers. In response to these dangers, many work zones have reduced speed limits and even police presences who can conduct traffic and keep vehicles moving smoothly through these areas.
The next time you drive near or through a work zone, do your best to follow these tips to stay safe:
Although it’s vital that you eliminate distractions regardless of where you are on the roadway, being distracted in a work zone is even more dangerous than usual due to the unpredictable nature of the roadway. Sudden lane splits, turns, and lane changes can occur without advanced warning, and if you’re not paying close attention to the roadway, you may not be able to react in time. In addition, glancing away from the roadway even momentarily can put you at risk of striking workers who are near the road.
If you notice signs that indicate your lane is ending soon, begin preparing to change lanes as soon as possible. Turn on your turn signal to indicate your intentions and wait for a safe opportunity to merge into the correct lane. Waiting too long to change lanes can cause you to run out of room on the roadway or merge into the other lane while it’s occupied by another vehicle, putting you at significant risk of an accident.
Depending on the nature of the work and the number of workers present, the speed limit in a work zone can be significantly lower than the speed limit elsewhere on the same highway or interstate. Reduced speed limits in work zones are designed to protect both drivers and workers, and exceeding those limits not only puts you at an increased risk of an accident, it also puts you at risk of being pulled over and receiving a heavy fine, as the cost of speeding tickets is often significantly increased when they’re issued in work zones.
The Federal Highway Administration reports that during the past five years, around 4,400 people were killed in work zone crashes and around 200,000 people were injured. Of those fatalities, around 85 percent were the drivers and passengers of vehicles. That means that while road work crews are at significant risk of being injured by oncoming traffic, the most at-risk group are people traveling through the work zone areas.
If you or someone you love was injured in a work zone accident that was caused by another driver’s negligence, the Nashville auto accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law want to speak with you. We’ve helped countless victims just like you get compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and we know what it takes to win. To speak with our legal team, just dial (615) 200-1111 or complete a free online consultation form.
