It’s Work Zone Awareness Week (April 20-24, 2026). National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is an annual spring campaign held at the start of construction season to encourage safe driving through highway work zones. The key message is to remind drivers to use extra caution in work zones to prevent a work zone accident.
What is a Work Zone Collision?
Work zone crashes are collisions that take place within the boundaries of a work zone or while approaching or exiting a work zone due to actions related to traffic moving through a work zone. Work zones can be dangerous because traffic patterns change quickly and often without much warning. Drivers may face narrowed lanes, sudden stops, reduced speed limits, and workers close to moving vehicles. Pedestrians are also at risk due to limited walkways, poor visibility, and moving construction equipment. Distracted driving, speeding, and confusion about lane shifts are some of the most common causes of crashes in these areas.
If you or a loved one was injured in a work zone accident because of the negligence of another, you need to know your legal rights. Contact an experienced, local car accident lawyer to discuss your potential claim.
Work Zone Accident Statistics
Work zone crashes are a serious safety concern across the country:
- According to data from the NSC, in 2023, drivers of motor vehicles accounted for the majority of work zone accident fatalities (61 percent), pedestrians accounted for 20 percent, passengers of motor vehicles accounted for 17 percent, and bicyclists accounted for one percent.
- In 2024, 850 people were killed in work zones. On average, at least two people are killed every day in work zones.
- In 2024, 673 drivers and passengers were killed in work zone Injuries.
- Damages and losses from work zone crashes are estimated to reach over $38.9 billion annually.
Work zone deaths reached a high in 2002, at 1,186. The fewest work zone deaths occurred in 2010, with 586. Since 2010, work zone deaths have increased 53 percent, but have decreased six percent since 2021. These numbers show why it’s important to keep improving safety in work zones. We need to stay alert and keep strong safety measures in place to help prevent accidents.
Injury Claims for Work Zone Accidents
If you are injured in a work zone crash, you may be able to file a personal injury claim to recover damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. These claims can be complicated because more than one party may be liable, including another driver, a construction company, or even a government entity responsible for road maintenance.
When a government entity is liable, injury claims can involve unique rules, shorter filing deadlines, and specific legal procedures that a personal injury attorney can help with.
Determining liability
Liability depends on who acted carelessly or failed to follow safety rules. This may include a driver who was speeding or distracted, and/or a contractor who did not properly mark hazards or close lanes safely.
Evidence is important in these cases. Photos of the scene, police reports, witness statements, and medical records can all help support a claim. There are also time limits, known as statutes of limitations, for filing injury claims, so it is important to act quickly after an accident.
How a Car Accident Attorney Can Help
An experienced injury attorney can investigate the crash, gather evidence, and determine who is responsible. They can also handle communication with insurance companies that try to limit payouts. Most importantly, a lawyer can help you understand your rights and guide you through the legal process so you can focus on recovery while your case is being handled.
Seek the Help of a Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured in a work zone accident because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! Since 1979, our personal injury law firm, Tario & Associates, P.S., has been dedicated to fighting for the rights of people injured throughout Washington State, with local offices in Bellingham and Mount Vernon to serve residents of Whatcom, Skagit, Island, and Snohomish counties. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
