Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend Will Be Construction-Free in Florida

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on November 24, 2015

In an effort to improve highway safety over the long holiday weekend, the Florida Department of Transportation District Three office will halt lane closing on state roads and interstates through Sunday. Although existing work zones will remain in effect, the office has pledged no additional lane closures through the weekend. Motorists are reminded to continue to be vigilant around work zones for construction personnel and to observe slower speed limits in the area.

The temporary suspension of construction work in the area is in response to a known increase in traffic over roads and interstates through the holiday weekend. The stoppage in work gives construction employees a brief break to spend holidays with their families and keeps them out of harm’s way as the number of vehicles out on the road is expected to increase up to 40% over the weekend. Florida is also expected to see some significant amounts of rainfall over Thanksgiving, so that will only increase congestion on the already-full highways.

Accidents in construction zones account for nearly 6,000 accidents in the state of Florida to date in 2015. Of those accidents, 54 have resulted in fatalities. While this represents approximately 1% of all vehicle construction zones, it is no less devastating to the family and friends of the victims, many of whom were not at fault in these accidents.

Typically, work zone accidents as a result of the abrupt slowdown in traffic. Because not all drivers are paying attention when this occurs, a large number of these accidents are rear-end collisions. Fortunately, the physics behind rear-end collisions benefit drivers in that both objects are moving in the same direction, so the impact is lessened. Wearing safety belts is also helpful, especially if one of the vehicles is pushed into the path of another. However, if one vehicle is stopped and is rear-ended by another, the results can be deadly. The Florida Highway Patrol advises that staying alert, obeying traffic laws including speed limits and always wearing your safety belt are some of the best ways to protect yourself while on the road or if you are involved in an accident.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a construction zone accident, please contact the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587) for a free initial consultation.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.