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Texas Road Construction Zone Deaths Worst in Nation

Texas Work Zone Accident Lawyer

Undefeated Texas Truck Accident Lawyers

In Texas, road construction is a common sight across city streets, rural county highways, and dangerous interstates as the state and its municipalities try to keep up with a ballooning, car-centric population and booming industrial large truck and 18-wheeler traffic.

But with countless roadway infrastructure projects underway, the sad reality is that Texas now leads the nation in deadly road work crashes.

In fact, the Lone Star State saw nearly 600 fatal road work crashes between 2017 and 2021 according to a new study based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash statistics.

Texas Fatal Road Work Accidents: More Than Double Any Other State

According to the study, Texas saw 582 fatal road work crashes out of a total of 17,549 crashes during the five-year time frame. That means 3.3% of all accidents in Texas involved utility, construction, and maintenance work zones — double the national average of 1.3%.

The state with the second highest proportion of fatal road work crashes was Alaska, which saw 10 of its 318 fatal crashes (or 3.1%) occur in work zones. Georgia was third-deadliest with 210 of 7,413 fatal crashes (2.8%) occurring in work zones.

Even with these statistics in mind, Texas saw nearly 50 times the amount of fatal construction zone accidents as Alaska did over the same time period, and over twice as many as Georgia. 

Main Causes of Construction Zone Accidents

Work zones are notoriously dangerous due to congested traffic, narrowing lanes, confusing lane markings and barricades, uneven pavement, and the presence of large equipment and workers. 

Sadly, these work zones can — and do — turn deadly in an instant when traffic control measures fail to alert drivers to the dangers ahead or negligent drivers simply ignore them. 

However, speeding and distracted driving are the leading causes of Texas construction zone crashes, and both behaviors greatly increase the chance of serious or fatal injuries, especially when other traffic is slow-moving or stopped.

Staying Safe in Texas Construction Zones

Unfortunately, the surge in road work accidents and fatalities shows no sign of stopping. More than 25,000 construction zone accidents were reported in the Lone Star State last year, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, resulting in 202 fatalities and 789 more seriously injured.

To prevent these accidents, drivers should always:

  • Avoid distractions and put their phones away
  • Obey road crew flaggers
  • Follow posted work zone speed limits
  • Avoid tailgating
  • Expect the unexpected

Traffic fines double in constructions zones when workers are present, and fines can cost up to $2,000.

Undefeated Texas Truck Accident Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 for a Free Consult

Our undefeated car accident attorneys and 18-wheeler accident lawyers have won billions for thousands of accident victims in Texas and throughout the nation, including the largest settlements and victories in Texas and U.S. history.  We don’t just win for our clients — we set records.

If you have questions about your legal rights and options following an 18-wheeler crash or other motor vehicle accident in a construction zone, please call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here to send us a confidential email via our “Contact Us” form.

All consultations are free, and because we exclusively represent clients on a contingency-fee basis, you’ll owe nothing unless we win your case.