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Florida Highway Work Zones - Are They a Death Trap?

States have raised fines for speeding in work zones, cracked down on drunken or distracted drivers and stiffened penalties for killing or injuring highway workers. And yet while federal regulators carefully track the ways motorists cause accidents, the New York Times article states "they do not make the same attempt to determine when contractors and state highway planners are at fault."

In Florida, a Sarasota jury, this month, will decide who is responsible for a 2007 construction zone accident on I-75 that killed James Brashear and Manuel Ramirez and injured 10 others, on October 1, 2007. The off duty trooper hired by the construction company to work the roadblock, testified he was "shocked" when he walked to the top of the overpass and looked down the other side and saw there were no signs warning approaching drivers of the upcoming roadblock.

Brashear's family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Zep Construction, the contractors responsible for controlling traffic in the construction zone where James Brashear was killed. Brashear and his 11 year-old son, Tyler, were stopped in traffic in a line up of 11 vehicles, when their car was struck by an 18-wheeler semi truck driven by Pablo Merlos. Tyler Brashear suffered a ruptured spleen and other internal injuries in this horrific crash. Several other cars were involved in the collision, as well. Merlos, on a delivery to Alabama, testified he had "crested the overpass when he saw traffic had stopped." He said there were no warning signs on the interstate. The fatal accident occurred when he failed to slow down or change lanes before plowing into the line of cars stopped at the start of the construction project.
The Brashears' attorney says Zep Construction of Fort Myers and its subcontractors did not follow procedures for "rolling roadblocks," including the lack of electronic warning signs at least a half-mile before the construction zone.

Florida work zone accidents involve investigation of whether traffic safety requirements were met by the contractor. Traffic safety standards may be imposed on the contractor from such sources as their contract to perform the work, in addition to specific state and federal requirements for the work being done. If you have been involved in a Florida construction work zone accident, you need to seek the advice of an experienced Florida accident attorney to recover damages. In a lawsuit, an accident victim can claim compensation for future medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering.

If you have been involved in a Florida construction work zone accident, you need to seek the advice of an experienced Florida accident attorney to recover damages. In a lawsuit, an accident victim can claim compensation for future medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering.

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