AI Insights Key Takeaways
- You generally have 3 years from the crash to file a car accident injury lawsuit in North Carolina (2 years for wrongful death).
- North Carolina's pure contributory negligence rule can bar recovery if you're found even partly at fault, so what you say to insurers matters.
- Schehr Law PLLC handles Charlotte road construction accident cases on contingency, no fee unless we win.
General information, not legal advice. Every case is different — talk to an attorney about yours.
Charlotte Roadwork Accident Attorney Fighting for Fair Compensation
Road construction can change traffic patterns and road conditions, often bringing cars in close proximity to construction vehicles, heavy equipment, and workers on foot. Hazards directly related to road construction and the negligence of motorists driving through construction zones can put drivers, pedestrians, construction workers, and others at risk of serious injuries. Figuring out what avenues for seeking compensation are available to you and what steps you need to take next can feel overwhelming, but an experienced road construction accident lawyer in Charlotte, NC, can put you on the path to financial compensation.
To get started with a free consultation, contact us today.
Road Construction Car Accidents in Charlotte, NC
In and around the Charlotte area, road construction can seem never-ending. Some highway construction projects last for months on end, completely or partially closing roadways or otherwise causing traffic pattern shifts that can seem like an accident waiting to happen.
Efforts to widen and repave existing roads, fix potholes, and create new roads or interchanges may have positive effects and even be necessary to maintain infrastructure in safe condition. However, the reality remains that highway construction zones pose significant car accident risks and, in some cases, unique hazards.
Who Can Sue for a Road Construction Car Accident Injury?
A Charlotte roadwork accident attorney at Schehr Law PLLC can represent victims injured in any type of car crash in a construction zone, including:
- Drivers on private trips, errands, or commutes
- Drivers on commercial business, including truck drivers, delivery drivers, and rideshare drivers
- Passengers in any vehicle
- Pedestrians
- Highway workers and construction workers, whether on foot, in a motor vehicle, or operating heavy machinery
- Police officers on duty controlling traffic in the construction zone
Generally, a person injured in a car accident in a road construction zone in North Carolina can seek financial compensation for their damages from any party whose negligence caused their injuries.
Defendants in Road Construction Accident Injury Claims
Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you might have a claim against any number of potential defendants, including:
- One or more drivers
- The employer of any commercial driver or vehicle involved in the crash, even if their employment is not related to the highway construction project
- Private construction companies involved in the construction project
- Construction site owners or managers
- Negligent subcontractors on the road construction site
- Government entities or agencies
- Manufacturers of malfunctioning construction equipment or defective vehicles or vehicle parts
These complex cases often involve more than one defendant and, potentially, more than one claim, such as a car accident claim combined with a workers’ compensation claim, or a car accident claim combined with a product liability claim. Schehr Law PLLC’s knowledgeable road construction accident lawyer in Charlotte, NC, can identify all potential defendants from whom you could seek compensation and begin gathering evidence to support your claim of negligence.
Causes of Road Construction Accidents
There are so many ways road construction can go wrong, especially in active work zones in which cars are sharing the road with construction workers and equipment. Workers on foot and other pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to injuries in a car accident. The common presence of potentially hazardous materials on construction sites can also increase the risks. Common causes of road construction accidents in North Carolina include:
- Inadequate or missing road construction signage
- Insufficient warning of road conditions or changes in traffic patterns
- Dangerously narrow lanes of travel
- Improperly secured roads and improper placement of roadblocks or barriers
- Missing or inadequate barriers and poor road design
- Improperly maintained or defective construction equipment
- Defective or malfunctioning vehicles, including construction vehicles, other commercial vehicles, and private vehicles
- Speeding in a construction zone
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Drowsy, aggressive, or reckless driving
- Failure to obey construction zone signage or failure to merge or yield
- Improper training of highway and construction workers, or failure of workers to follow safety procedures
Untangling complicated causes of construction zone car accidents requires a thorough investigation and extensive knowledge of each party’s responsibilities under the law. A Charlotte roadwork accident attorney at Schehr Law PLLC can review the facts of your case and undertake a fact-gathering investigation to support your claim for compensation.
Who Is Liable for a Charlotte Work Zone Crash
Crashes in highway work zones can involve more than just another driver. North Carolina enforces reduced, posted speed limits in work zones under N.C.G.S. § 20-141, and a speeding or inattentive motorist is frequently at fault. But a construction company responsible for the work zone can also share liability when the site is set up unsafely, with missing or confusing signage, poor lane markings, or unprotected hazards. These claims turn on documenting the scene quickly before conditions change, and because North Carolina follows contributory negligence, proving the other party’s fault is essential.
What to Do After a Work Zone Crash in Charlotte
No matter who was at fault, the steps you take right after the crash protect both your health and your claim. Here is what our Charlotte work zone accident attorneys tell clients to do:
- Get to Safety & Call 911. Watch for traffic and workers nearby.
- Accept Medical Care. Some injuries surface hours or days later.
- Photograph the Work Zone. Signs, cones, barriers, and lane shifts.
- Note the Conditions. Missing signage or poor setup can shift blame.
- Identify Everyone Involved. Drivers, and the contractor if at fault.
- Talk to a Lawyer First. A contractor or agency may share liability.
What Not to Do After a Work Zone Crash
These are the missteps insurers count on, and the ones that most often sink an otherwise strong claim:
- Don’t Admit Fault. Not even a reflexive “I’m sorry.”
- No Recorded Statement. Not to any driver’s or contractor’s insurer.
- Don’t Assume It’s Your Fault. Bad work-zone setup can cause crashes.
- Don’t Take the First Offer. Or sign any release.
- Don’t Skip Treatment. Gaps let adjusters dispute your injuries.
How Schehr Law PLLC Can Help
The team at Schehr Law PLLC represents victims injured in all types of highway construction car accidents, including:
- Flagmen struck by passing vehicles (private, commercial, or construction)
- Highway construction workers and other workers struck by passing vehicles while performing their job duties on foot
- Workers or pedestrians struck in collisions involving heavy machinery and construction equipment, with or without involvement of other motor vehicles
- Collisions in road construction zones between two or more motor vehicles (private, commercial, or construction)
- Collisions in road construction zones between a single vehicle and a fixed object, such as an improperly placed barrier
Each highway construction zone accident is unique, which is why Schehr Law PLLC prioritizes providing personalized attention to every case and client. Our road construction accident lawyer in Charlotte, NC, will assist you by evaluating the specific facts of your case, investigating your accident, gathering evidence of the negligence of all defendants, and documenting your damages.
Why Choose Schehr Law PLLC
What makes Schehr Law PLLC the right choice for your road construction accident claim? Across North Carolina, the injured turn to our firm to advocate for maximum results that protect their future and their families.
Dedication to Fighting Relentlessly for You
At Schehr Law PLLC, we make a commitment to getting you results. While we often achieve settlements through strong negotiation, we’re always willing to take your case to court when securing full compensation for you requires more aggressive tactics.
A Family-Oriented Firm
We’re not one of those big law firms where you’ll feel like nothing more than a case number, wondering if you’ll ever even interact with your attorney. From the moment you retain us to represent you, we bring you into the Schehr Law PLLC family. Throughout your case, we make a commitment to caring for your family and ensuring you receive the support to get through this ordeal.
No Fee Guarantee
We never want the cost of legal representation to add to your stress or stand in the way of pursuing the compensation you deserve. Schehr Law PLLC assists personal injury victims on a contingency basis, making each client our No Fee Guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you do after a road construction accident in Charlotte?
In the chaotic aftermath of a car accident on a road construction site, you should take the following steps: Get out of the path of traffic to prevent further injuries. Call 911 to report the accident. Document the scene with written notes, photos, and videos. Gather information from all parties involved and all witnesses. Provide your information to other involved parties and first responders. Undergo medical examinations first by emergency personnel and then by a physician at a medical facility. Consult an experienced attorney to protect your legal rights. Notify your auto insurance company, if applicable, keeping in mind the preliminary advice a lawyer has provided to help you avoid common mistakes.
What damages can you collect for injuries due to a road construction car accident?
The types of damages you can seek in a road construction car accident claim depend on the specifics of your case. In a workers’ compensation claim arising out of a highway construction zone accident, you can generally receive medical benefits that cover your medical expenses and compensation for a portion of your lost wages. In a claim against a careless driver, the manufacturer of any defective product, or any third party whose negligence contributed to a work injury, you can generally seek compensation for losses such as the following:
- Medical expenses
- Any future medical costs of long-term injuries
- Lost wages
- Any decline in future income potential
- Pain and suffering
- Decrease in quality of life
A Charlotte roadwork accident attorney can identify the full array of damages you can seek compensation for and thoroughly document those damages to develop a successful claim.
How long do I have to file a claim for road construction accident injuries?
The sooner you consult a road construction accident lawyer in Charlotte, NC, about your claim, the better. In general, North Carolina law imposes a three-year statute of limitations for car accident claims and other civil personal injury matters. By this deadline, you must have formally filed a claim or lawsuit. This means you should retain an attorney much earlier to ensure there’s sufficient time to investigate the accident, build a strong claim, and file all the required documents. There are certain exceptions to this deadline, including:
- Workers’ compensation claims: If you’re injured on the job, you may be required to formally report the injury to your employer within 30 days and file a claim within three years to be eligible to receive workers’ comp benefits. An experienced attorney can help you with both your claim for workers’ compensation benefits and a third-party claim against the negligent driver.
- Claims against government defendants: In certain situations, a government entity may bear some liability for injuries sustained in road construction accidents. When suing a government entity, you must often provide formal notice of your claim within a specified time limit. This deadline can vary from one city to another, but in Charlotte, it has historically been just 90 days. You should involve an attorney in a case that may involve any government defendant as soon as possible.
- Wrongful death claims: In the event of a fatal road construction accident, families have only three years to file a wrongful death claim through which they can recover compensation.
To ensure you meet all deadlines that apply to your specific situation, speak to a Charlotte roadwork accident attorney as soon as possible.
What injuries commonly result from road construction car accidents?
Car accidents in highway construction zones can cause particularly serious injuries due to the unpredictable nature of these crashes, the hazards in the construction site environment, and the vulnerability of victims who are on foot. Common types of injuries include:
- Lacerations requiring medical intervention
- Muscle, ligament, and tendon sprains, strains, and tears
- Broken bones
- Joint dislocations
- Injuries to internal organs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Limb loss and amputation, often due to crush injuries
- Harmful exposures
- Burns
- Electrical shocks
Injuries on road construction sites can range from moderate to catastrophic. If the injury is significant enough to impact your life in some way, it’s worth consulting a road construction accident lawyer in Charlotte, NC, to learn about your legal options.
Talk to a Road Construction Accident Lawyer Today
When you need help getting compensation for your serious injuries, we’re here to guide you and handle each aspect of your claim every step of the way. For help from a road construction accident lawyer in Charlotte, NC, contact us today or call (704) 900-0336.