Dallas Highway Construction Accidents: Who Is Liable for Injuries in Texas Car Crashes?

The Dallas, Texas, metropolitan area is experiencing some of the fastest growth in the country, making cone zones a frequent sight for Dallas motorists. Road work is essential for keeping up with increasing traffic, but it also poses hazards for drivers already navigating busy roadways. When accidents occur, they can lead to serious injuries and make liability difficult to determine.

If you are injured in a vehicle crash, you should not have to spend your recovery time figuring out who was at fault and fighting insurance companies for compensation. Let the Dallas car accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw do the heavy legal lifting so you can focus on healing. We provide free consultations in English and Spanish, and we offer our services on a contingency-fee basis so you pay nothing until we win your case. We’re available 24/7 at 1-800-862-1260 or online.

High traffic volume makes cone zones even more dangerous for congested highways. Texas sees a high number of work zone accidents, with nearly 28,000 in 2024 alone. Many of those incidents occurred around Dallas, Texas. Some of the issues drivers face include:

• Sudden lane changes and merges
• Uneven lanes or sudden drop-offs
• Confusing or misplaced signs
• Construction debris in traffic lanes
• Insufficient lighting

When you combine construction zone dangers with driver hazards like distraction, aggression, or driving under the influence, the consequences can be devastating for victims. Victims need an experienced personal injury attorney to protect their rights and ensure they get all the compensation they are entitled to.

The complexity of work zone accidents makes it difficult to pinpoint the cause of a crash. Your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation to recreate the accident and determine fault, gathering evidence like:

• Police reports documenting crash details
• Photos of road conditions, vehicle damage, and injuries
• Videos or dash cams of the accident scene
• Statements from witnesses at the scene
• Expert testimony from accident reconstruction experts

The sooner you call an attorney like Carabin Shaw, the faster they can begin collecting key evidence while it is still available. Check out our law firm’s client reviews to see how we’ve helped other accident victims hold at-fault parties accountable.

Numerous parties may contribute to a construction zone accident, including:

• Drivers who drive aggressively or fail to obey traffic laws
• Construction companies that are responsible for signage and cone placement
• Subcontractors on the site that create road hazards
• The government entity that designed the traffic control plan

Once your lawyer identifies the at-fault parties, they will establish that the party’s negligence caused your injuries. Negligence begins with the party’s legal duty to behave with a level of care a reasonable person would have exercised in the same situation. If the party breached or failed that duty, and the breach led directly to your accident, they are liable for your injuries and related losses.

Some accidents involve more than one at-fault party. For example, a driver may have been speeding through the area, but an unmarked lane change caused them to sideswipe your vehicle. The driver was at fault for failing to follow traffic laws, and the construction company was at fault for failing to provide adequate warning to motorists.

In this situation, the driver and the construction company may be liable for your injuries under Texas’s proportionate responsibility rule. Each at-fault party will be responsible for a portion of your damages, based on their portion of fault for your accident. Your legal team will identify all responsible parties to secure full compensation.

Work zones are an unavoidable hazard for Dallas drivers, who sometimes become victims of crashes in cone zones due to circumstances beyond their control. That’s where the compassionate Texas attorneys at Carabin Shaw can help. Call us toll-free today at 1-800-862-1260.

For more information:

• Texas Department of Transportation
• Cornell Law School
• Texas Statutes 33