You know the drill, right? You’re cruising down I-25 through Pueblo, maybe humming along to your favorite song, and then BAM – you hit another construction zone. Orange cones everywhere, lanes merging like a chaotic dance, traffic slowing to a crawl. And then, out of nowhere, it happens. Someone rear-ends you, or worse, you get tangled in a multi-car pileup because the signs were just plain confusing, or you couldn’t see a thing.
Sound familiar? If you’ve been in an accident in one of Pueblo’s I-25 construction zones, trust me, you are absolutely not alone. These work zones are like accident magnets, and trying to figure out who’s on the hook for your damages can feel like trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing.
After years of helping folks navigate these exact kinds of situations, here’s what I’ve learned: construction zone accidents aren’t just your typical fender-benders with a few orange cones thrown in. Oh no. They’re super complex cases where blame can fall on a whole bunch of different people, and insurance companies just love to play hot potato with who’s responsible.
So, let me walk you through everything you need to know about construction zone accidents on I-25. We’ll cover who might be liable, how you can protect yourself, and how to get the compensation you truly deserve.
Why I-25 Construction Zones Are Accident Hotspots
Let’s be real – driving through a construction zone is just plain stressful. Between 2018 and 2022, Colorado saw over 8,000 crashes in work zones, and I-25 was definitely one of the biggest culprits. That’s not just some dry statistic; that’s thousands of real people dealing with injuries, wrecked cars, and lost paychecks, all because someone didn’t manage a construction site properly or another driver simply wasn’t paying attention.
The “Perfect Storm” of Hazards
Construction zones create what I like to call the “perfect storm” of driving hazards:
- Sudden Lane Changes: You’re chugging along at 65 mph, and suddenly, you’ve got to merge three lanes over in less than a football field. That’s just not realistic, especially when traffic is heavy.
- Confusing Signage: I can’t even count how many times I’ve seen temporary signs that completely contradict each other, or they’re placed where you can’t possibly see them until it’s way too late to react safely.
- Speed Limit Rollercoasters: The speed drops from 75 to 45 mph, but half the drivers don’t even notice until they see flashing lights in their rearview mirror – or until they slam right into slower traffic ahead.
- Reduced Visibility: Concrete barriers, big ol’ equipment, and clouds of dust can totally block your view of what’s happening up ahead. You might not see that traffic has ground to a complete stop until you’re practically on top of it.
- Workers and Equipment Everywhere: Heavy machinery backing up, workers crossing lanes, equipment that sticks out into traffic – these are constant surprises that drivers just aren’t used to dealing with.
The Human Factor Makes It Even Worse
Here’s the kicker about construction zones – they really bring out both the best and worst in drivers. Some folks slow down and give extra space (bless their hearts!), while others treat it like a NASCAR race where they absolutely must get ahead of everyone before the lanes close.
Road rage seems to spike in construction zones because everyone’s frustrated. People are running late, they’re stressed out trying to figure out the changing lanes, and they end up making bad decisions. I’ve seen accidents happen because someone got aggressive about merging and just forced their way into a space that wasn’t really there.
Then there’s the distraction factor. Drivers rubberneck to see what’s being built, they check their phones because traffic is moving slowly, or they get totally overwhelmed trying to read all the temporary signs. All the while, traffic patterns are constantly changing as the construction moves along. It’s a lot to process!
Who’s Actually Responsible When Things Go Wrong?
This is where construction zone accidents get super tricky. In a regular accident, you usually just have two drivers and their insurance companies to sort things out. But in construction zones, the list of folks who could be responsible can be surprisingly long.
The Other Driver (Usually the First Suspect)
Let’s start with the most obvious one – the other driver involved in your accident. Even though you’re in a construction zone, drivers still have a duty to:
- Keep a safe following distance (even more important when you can’t see far ahead).
- Obey all posted speed limits and construction zone signs.
- Merge safely and use their turn signals.
- Stay alert and avoid distractions.
If someone rear-ends you because they were tailgating in stop-and-go construction traffic, that’s on them. If someone cuts you off during a forced merge without signaling, that’s their fault too. The construction zone doesn’t give anyone a free pass to drive like a maniac.
I’ve handled cases where drivers actually claimed the construction zone “made them” cause an accident, but honestly, that doesn’t really hold up. You’re still expected to drive safely according to the conditions, even if those conditions are tough.
Construction Companies and Contractors
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Construction companies have a legal duty to keep their work zones reasonably safe. When they mess that up, they can be held responsible for accidents that happen.
- Bad Traffic Control: If the signs are confusing, missing, or placed in a dumb spot, that’s on the construction company. I’ve seen cases where merge signs were totally blocked by equipment or put so close to the actual merge point that drivers couldn’t react in time.
- Confusing Lane Markings: Old lane markings should be covered up or removed when new traffic patterns are put in. If drivers are getting messed up because they can see both old and new lines, that’s a problem for the construction company.
- Equipment Sticking Out: Construction equipment that extends into travel lanes needs to be clearly marked and protected. If a truck is poking out into your lane without good warning signs or barriers, and you hit it, the construction company might be liable.
- Debris and Hazards: Construction sites create a lot of mess – loose gravel, mud tracked onto the road, dropped materials. If these hazards aren’t cleaned up quickly and cause accidents, the contractor can be held responsible.
Government Agencies (CDOT and Local Folks)
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and local government agencies also have responsibilities in construction zones. They’re supposed to make sure that construction projects meet safety standards and that proper traffic control measures are in place.
- Not Enough Oversight: If CDOT approved a traffic control plan that was clearly unsafe, they might share the blame for accidents that happen.
- Poor Design Choices: Sometimes the temporary traffic pattern itself is the problem. If the design forces dangerous merges or makes it hard to see, the agency that approved it could be liable.
- Failure to Inspect: Government agencies are supposed to regularly check construction zones to make sure they’re following safety rules. If they knew about dangerous conditions and didn’t make the contractor fix them, that could create liability.
Equipment Manufacturers and Subcontractors
In some situations, a faulty traffic light or broken equipment might contribute to an accident. If a portable traffic signal stops working or a barrier doesn’t do its job, the manufacturer might be responsible.
Subcontractors who handle specific parts of traffic control can also be liable if they don’t do their job right. For example, if a subcontractor is in charge of placing and maintaining signs, and they mess it up, they could be on the hook for resulting accidents.
Common Types of Construction Zone Accidents on I-25
After dealing with tons of these cases, I’ve noticed that certain types of accidents just keep happening over and over again in Pueblo’s I-25 construction zones. Knowing these patterns can help you stay safer and also helps explain why figuring out who’s at fault can be so complicated.
Rear-End Collisions (The Absolute Most Common)
These happen constantly in construction zones, and they’re not always as simple as they seem. Sure, if someone’s following too closely and rear-ends you when traffic slows down, that’s usually their fault. But what if the construction zone itself created an unusually dangerous situation?
Case Example: once where an I-25 construction zone had a super sudden speed reduction from 75 to 35 mph with only one tiny sign posted. That sign was partly blocked by equipment, and there was absolutely no warning ahead of time. When traffic suddenly slammed on the brakes, it caused a chain reaction of rear-end collisions involving six vehicles.
In that case, the construction company’s terrible signage played a big part in the accident. The drivers who rear-ended other vehicles were still partly at fault, but the construction company shared responsibility for creating such a dangerous situation.
Sideswipe Accidents During Forced Merges
Construction zones often cram multiple lanes of traffic into fewer lanes, sometimes with very little heads-up. When drivers are forced to merge super quickly, sideswipe accidents are almost guaranteed.
The tricky part is figuring out who’s to blame. Was it the driver who didn’t signal? The driver who wouldn’t let someone merge? Or was it the construction company that designed a totally unsafe merge situation?
I’ve seen cases where the merge area was way too short for the amount of traffic, making it practically impossible to merge safely. In those situations, the construction company can share responsibility even if one of the drivers technically failed to yield.
Head-On Collisions in Crossover Areas
Some construction projects make traffic cross over into oncoming lanes. These crossover areas are incredibly dangerous, especially at night or in bad weather. If the crossover isn’t properly marked or protected, head-on collisions can happen.
These are often the most serious accidents I deal with, and they’re almost always preventable with proper traffic control. If a construction company doesn’t adequately protect a crossover area and someone gets seriously hurt, they’re likely to face a lot of liability.
Accidents Involving Construction Vehicles
Construction vehicles entering and exiting the work zone create even more hazards. These vehicles are often huge, slow-moving, and might need to make unexpected turns.
I’ve seen cases where construction vehicles pulled onto the highway without enough warning to approaching traffic, or where equipment was left partly blocking a travel lane. These situations can create responsibility for both the construction company and potentially the equipment operator.
Multi-Vehicle Pileups
These are the absolute nightmare scenarios – tons of vehicles involved in chain-reaction crashes, often with serious injuries. Construction zones increase the risk of pileups because they create situations where traffic speeds change wildly and visibility is reduced.
Figuring out who’s at fault in multi-vehicle pileups is super complex because you have to look at what multiple drivers did, plus any contributing factors from the construction zone itself. Each vehicle involved might have a different percentage of fault.
The Real Cost of Construction Zone Accidents
When people think about car accidents, they often just focus on the immediate costs – fixing the car, medical bills, maybe a little time off work. But construction zone accidents can have impacts that last much longer and cost way more than you might expect.
Medical Expenses That Just Keep Growing
Construction zone accidents often lead to more serious injuries than regular accidents because they frequently involve higher speeds, multiple vehicles, or weird impact angles. What starts as a quick trip to the emergency room can turn into months of physical therapy, multiple surgeries, or even long-term treatment.
I’ve worked with clients who initially thought they were fine after a construction zone accident, only to find out weeks later that they had serious injuries. Adrenaline and shock can hide pain right after an accident, and some injuries like herniated discs or traumatic brain injuries don’t show symptoms right away.
The problem is, insurance companies often try to settle quickly, before you even know the full extent of your injuries. They’ll offer what seems like a decent amount to cover your immediate bills, but that amount might not even scratch the surface of your long-term medical needs.
Lost Wages and Future Earning Power
If your injuries keep you from working, you’re not just losing your current paycheck – you might be losing money you could have earned in the future. This is especially true if you have a physical job and your injuries prevent you from going back to that kind of work.
I’ve seen clients who had to totally change careers because of injuries from construction zone accidents. A construction worker who hurts his back might not be able to do physical labor anymore. A truck driver who develops vision problems after a head injury might lose his commercial license.
These career changes often mean taking a big pay cut, and that lost earning potential should absolutely be part of your compensation. But calculating and proving future lost earnings takes a special kind of know-how that most people don’t have.
Vehicle Replacement and Getting Around
Your car might be totaled, but the insurance company’s offer might not be enough to replace it with a similar vehicle. This is super frustrating, especially with how high used car prices are these days.
Plus, while you’re waiting for your claim to be settled, you still need to get around. Rental car coverage through insurance is often limited, and you might end up paying out of pocket for weeks or even months of rental fees.
Pain and Suffering
This is the hardest category to put a number on, but it’s very, very real. Chronic pain, anxiety about driving again, depression from lifestyle changes – these impacts affect your quality of life in ways that are tough to quantify in dollars.
Colorado law lets you get compensation for pain and suffering, but insurance companies often try to lowball these damages. They know most people don’t understand how to properly value non-economic losses.
The Ripple Effect on Your Family
Serious accidents don’t just affect the injured person – they affect the whole family. Spouses might need to take time off work to help with care. Kids might need counseling to deal with the trauma of seeing a parent injured. Family activities and plans might have to be canceled or changed.
These impacts are real costs that should be considered in your claim, but they’re often overlooked if you don’t have experienced legal help.
How Insurance Companies Handle Construction Zone Claims
Let me be super straight with you about something: insurance companies are not your buddies when it comes to construction zone accident claims. They’re businesses trying to pay out as little as possible, and construction zone accidents give them tons of chances to shift blame and reduce what they owe.
The Blame Game Gets Messy
In a regular two-car accident, the insurance companies usually just argue about which driver was at fault. In construction zone accidents, they have way more options for pointing fingers:
- “It wasn’t our insured’s fault – the construction company created a hazardous condition.”
- “Our insured couldn’t have avoided the accident because the signs were totally inadequate.”
- “The government agency should have demanded better safety measures.”
While all this finger-pointing is going on, you’re stuck waiting for someone to take responsibility for your damages. Meanwhile, your medical bills are piling up and your car is sitting in a tow lot racking up storage fees.
Pressure for a Quick Settlement
Insurance companies love to make quick settlement offers on construction zone accidents, especially if you don’t have a lawyer. They’ll call you within days of the accident with an offer that might sound reasonable if you don’t know any better.
The problem is, these quick offers are almost always way below what your claim is actually worth. The insurance company is betting that you don’t understand how complex construction zone liability is, or the potential long-term costs of your injuries.
I’ve seen people accept settlements of a few thousand dollars for accidents that should have been worth tens of thousands, simply because they didn’t realize they could claim against multiple parties or didn’t understand the full extent of their damages.
Recorded Statements and Forms
Insurance adjusters will want to get you on record as quickly as possible after your accident. They’ll call and ask for a recorded statement, saying they need it to process your claim. What they’re really doing is trying to get you to say something they can use against you later.
In construction zone accidents, they might ask leading questions designed to get you to accept all the blame:
- “So you were following too closely?”
- “You saw the construction signs, right?”
- “The other driver couldn’t help it because of the construction, don’t you think?”
Anything you say in these recorded statements can be used to reduce or deny your claim later. You have no obligation to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company, and you should be super careful about what you say to your own insurance company too.
Claim Denials and Delays
Construction zone accidents often involve arguments over coverage between multiple insurance companies. Each company wants the others to pay, and while they’re fighting it out, your claim gets stuck in limbo.
Sometimes insurance companies will deny claims completely, arguing that their insured wasn’t at fault because the construction zone created the dangerous condition. They’re just hoping you’ll give up or accept a lowball offer from someone else rather than fight the denial.
The “Act of God” Excuse
I’ve actually seen insurance companies try to argue that construction zone accidents were caused by “acts of God” or “unavoidable circumstances” created by the construction. This is usually total nonsense – construction zones are predictable hazards that can be managed safely with proper planning and execution.
But if you don’t have legal help, you might not know how to argue against these kinds of claims effectively.
Protecting Yourself: What to Do Right After an I-25 Construction Zone Accident
The minutes and hours right after a construction zone accident are absolutely crucial for protecting your legal rights and building a strong claim. Here’s what you need to do, step by step.
Safety First, Always
Before you even think about blame or insurance claims, make sure everyone is safe. Construction zones have extra hazards that regular accident scenes don’t:
- Get Out of Traffic: If you can, move vehicles out of the travel lanes. Construction zones often have limited shoulder space, so you might need to move further than you would in a regular accident.
- Watch for Construction Equipment: Be aware that construction vehicles might still be operating nearby. Make sure you’re in a safe spot away from moving equipment.
- Be Patient with Emergency Vehicles: Ambulances and police cars might have a hard time getting into construction zone accident scenes. Be patient and stay out of their way.
Document Everything (And I Mean EVERYTHING)
Construction zone accidents need more documentation than regular accidents because of all the extra people who might be responsible. Your phone camera is your absolute best friend here.
- Take Wide-Angle Photos: Don’t just snap pics of the car damage. Take wide shots that show the whole construction zone layout, including:
- Traffic control signs and where they’re placed
- Lane markings (both old and new if you can see them)
- Construction equipment and barriers
- Anything blocking your view
- The condition of the road surface
- Document Traffic Control Measures: Photograph every sign, cone, and barrier in the area. Pay extra attention to any advance warning signs – or if they’re missing! If signs are gone, damaged, or placed badly, document that.
- Get Photos from Multiple Angles: The view from your driver’s seat might be different from what investigators see later. Take photos from where you were driving when you first spotted the hazard or construction zone.
- Document Lighting Conditions: If the accident happened at dawn, dusk, or night, lighting is super important. Take photos that show how visible (or invisible) the traffic control devices were under those conditions.
Gather Info from Everyone Involved
Besides getting info from the other drivers, you need to identify:
- Construction Company Information: Get the name of the construction company, the project supervisor on site, and any relevant project numbers or contract info.
- Government Project Information: Find out if this is a CDOT project, a county project, or a city project. Get project numbers and contact info if you can.
- Witness Information: Construction zones often have workers who see accidents. Get their names and contact info if they’re willing to give it. Also get info from any other drivers who saw what happened.
Be Careful What You Say
This is especially important in construction zone accidents because there are more people looking for ways to shift blame:
- Don’t Admit Fault: Even if you think you might have played a part in the accident, don’t say so at the scene. You don’t have all the facts yet about whether the construction zone itself was a factor.
- Stick to Facts: When talking to police, other drivers, or insurance companies, just stick to what you saw. “The traffic suddenly slowed down” is much better than “I was following too closely.”
- Don’t Guess: Don’t speculate about what the other driver was thinking or why the accident happened. You don’t have enough information yet.
Get Medical Attention Even If You Feel Fine
Construction zone accidents often involve unusual forces and impact angles that can cause injuries you don’t immediately notice. Adrenaline can hide pain for hours or even days after an accident.
- Go to the Emergency Room: Even if you think you’re not seriously injured, get checked out. Some injuries like concussions or soft tissue damage don’t show symptoms right away.
- Follow Up with Your Doctor: See your regular doctor within a few days of the accident, even if the emergency room gave you the all-clear. Some injuries develop over time.
- Keep Detailed Records: Write down any pain, discomfort, or limitations you experience in the days and weeks after the accident. This info will be super important for your claim.
Report the Accident Properly
Make sure the accident is reported to all the right people:
- Police Report: Obviously, make sure a police report is filed. In construction zones, the officer might not know the specific traffic control plan for that project, so make sure they write down everything thoroughly.
- CDOT Reporting: If it’s a CDOT project, the accident should be reported to CDOT too. They keep track of construction zone accidents for safety analysis and project changes.
- Construction Company Notification: The construction company should be told about the accident. They might need to change their traffic control plan if the accident points to a safety problem.
Don’t Rush Into Settlement Talks
Insurance companies will start calling quickly, but you don’t need to make any decisions right away:
- Take Time to Understand Your Injuries: You might not know the full extent of your injuries for days or weeks.
- Investigate All Potential Claims: You might have claims against multiple parties, and it takes time to figure out all of them.
- Understand the Full Cost: Car repairs, medical bills, lost wages – these costs add up over time, and early settlement offers rarely cover everything.
When You Really Need a Pueblo Car Accident Lawyer
I’ll be honest with you – not every little fender-bender needs a lawyer. But construction zone accidents are different. They’re more complicated, involve more people, and often lead to more serious injuries. Here are the situations where you absolutely, positively need professional help:
Multiple Parties Are Involved
If your accident could involve the construction company, government agencies, or multiple drivers, you need someone who knows how to handle claims with lots of different players. These cases require different strategies than simple two-car accidents.
Insurance companies will try to play these parties against each other, hoping to avoid paying you fairly. An experienced attorney knows how to cut through all that and hold everyone responsible accountable.
Serious Injuries or Long-Term Problems
If you’ve suffered injuries that need ongoing treatment, affect your ability to work, or impact your quality of life, the stakes are just too high to handle on your own. Insurance companies will try to minimize these damages, and you need someone who knows how to properly value and present your claim.
Disputed Blame
If there’s any question about who was at fault, or if the insurance company is trying to blame you for the accident, you need legal representation. Construction zone accidents often involve complex liability issues that require investigation and expert analysis.
Insurance Company Acting Badly
If an insurance company is unreasonably delaying your claim, denying valid claims, or offering settlements that are clearly way too low, they might be acting in bad faith. Colorado has strong laws protecting consumers from insurance bad faith, but you need to know how to use them.
Complex Damages
If your damages include lost earning potential, future medical expenses, or significant pain and suffering, calculating and proving these damages takes expertise. Insurance companies will lowball these claims if they think you don’t know any better.
What to Look for in a Construction Zone Accident Attorney
Not all personal injury lawyers have experience with construction zone accidents. Here’s what you should look for:
- Experience with Multi-Party Claims: Make sure your attorney has handled cases involving multiple defendants and complex liability issues.
- Knowledge of Construction Safety Standards: Your lawyer should understand the rules and standards that apply to construction zone traffic control.
- Resources for Investigation: Construction zone cases often need accident reconstruction, engineering analysis, and expert testimony. Make sure your attorney has the resources to properly investigate your case.
- Trial Experience: While most cases settle, insurance companies take you more seriously if they know your attorney is ready to go to trial if needed.
- Local Knowledge: An attorney familiar with Pueblo and I-25 construction projects will understand local conditions and have relationships with relevant experts and investigators.
At McCormick & Murphy, we’ve been handling construction zone accident cases in Pueblo for years. We get the unique challenges these cases bring, and we have the resources and experience to take on construction companies, government agencies, and insurance companies. You can find us at 301 N Main St, Pueblo, CO 81003, and we’re always ready to chat about your case.
How Attorney Fees Work in These Cases
Most personal injury attorneys, including us, handle construction zone accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay attorney fees unless we recover money for you. If we don’t win your case, you don’t owe us anything for our time.
This fee structure just makes sense for these cases because it means our goals are aligned with yours – we only get paid if we get results for you. It also means you can afford quality legal help even if you’re dealing with medical bills and lost wages from your accident.
Preventing Construction Zone Accidents: Tips for Staying Safe
While we can’t control how construction companies manage their work zones or how other drivers behave, we can control our own driving. Here are some practical tips for staying safe in I-25 construction zones:
Slow Down and Give More Space
This seems obvious, but it’s worth saying again. Construction zones demand slower speeds and longer stopping distances. The posted speed limit is a maximum, not a target – if conditions are challenging, slow down even more.
Double or triple your normal following distance. In construction zones, traffic can go from highway speeds to a complete stop super quickly, and you need extra time to react.
Stay Alert and Ditch Distractions
Put your phone away completely. Don’t eat, don’t fiddle with the radio, don’t have intense conversations. Construction zones need your full attention because things can change in a flash.
If you need to make a call or deal with something urgent, get out of the construction zone first and find a safe place to pull over.
Plan Your Route and Time It Right
Check CDOT’s website or apps like Waze before you travel to see if there are construction delays on your route. If you can, try to avoid construction zones during peak traffic times when accidents are more likely.
If you know you’ll be going through a construction zone, give yourself extra time. Rushing leads to bad decisions and aggressive driving.
Merge Early and Be Polite
When you see signs saying a lane is closing ahead, merge as soon as it’s safe to do so. Don’t wait until the very last second and force your way in – this creates dangerous situations and makes road rage incidents worse.
If someone is trying to merge, just let them in. A few seconds of being nice can prevent accidents and lower everyone’s stress level.
Keep Your Vehicle Maintained
Construction zones are tough on cars. Make sure your tires have good tread, your brakes are in good shape, and your lights work properly. Poor vehicle maintenance can turn a minor incident into a serious accident.
Know What to Expect
Familiarize yourself with common construction zone traffic control devices and what they mean. Understanding the signs and signals helps you react appropriately and safely.
If you’re not familiar with a particular construction zone, consider taking a different route until you can check out the traffic pattern and plan your approach.
The Future of I-25 Construction and Safety
Construction on I-25 through Pueblo isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. CDOT has ongoing projects to improve capacity and safety, but these improvements require years of construction work that creates temporary hazards.
New Safety Technologies
CDOT is starting to use new tech to make construction zones safer:
- Dynamic Message Signs: These can give you real-time info about traffic conditions, speed limits, and hazards ahead.
- Automated Speed Enforcement: Some construction zones now use cameras to ticket drivers who go over the posted speed limit.
- Improved Barrier Systems: New barrier designs offer better protection for workers and clearer guidance for drivers.
- Smart Work Zone Systems: These systems can tell when traffic is backing up and automatically adjust message signs and speed limits to help prevent rear-end crashes.
Better Planning and Design
CDOT is also getting better at how construction zones are planned and designed:
- Longer Advance Notice: Projects are being announced further in advance, giving drivers more time to plan alternate routes.
- Improved Traffic Control Plans: New standards require more detailed analysis of traffic patterns and safety risks before construction even starts.
- Better Coordination: Multiple projects are being coordinated to minimize the total impact on traffic flow.
What This Means for Drivers
These improvements will make construction zones safer over time, but they also mean that safety standards are getting stricter. Construction companies and government agencies will be held to higher standards, which could affect who’s responsible in future accident cases.
If you’re injured in a construction zone accident, these evolving standards might actually help your case by showing that better safety measures were available and should have been implemented.
Your Next Steps After a Pueblo I-25 Construction Zone Accident
If you’ve been in a construction zone accident on I-25, here’s what you should do right now:
Get the Medical Care You Need
Don’t put off medical treatment because you’re worried about costs or dealing with insurance companies. Your health comes first, and delaying treatment can both hurt your recovery and harm your legal claim.
Keep detailed records of all your medical treatment, including appointments you miss from work, medications you need, and activities you can’t do because of your injuries.
Document Your Damages
Keep track of all the ways the accident has affected your life:
- Medical bills and expenses
- Lost wages and missed work opportunities
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
- Transportation expenses while your car is being fixed
- Pain and limitations in your daily activities
- Impact on your family and relationships
Don’t Accept Quick Settlement Offers
Insurance companies will pressure you to settle quickly, but you don’t have to rush. Take time to understand the full extent of your injuries and damages before making any decisions.
Remember, once you accept a settlement, you usually can’t go back and ask for more money if your injuries turn out to be worse than you initially thought.
Get Professional Help
Construction zone accidents are just too complex and too important to handle on your own. The insurance companies have teams of lawyers and investigators working to minimize what they pay you. You deserve to have someone fighting just as hard for your interests.
At McCormick & Murphy, we’ve been helping Pueblo residents with personal injury cases since 1995. We understand construction zone accidents, we know how to deal with multiple insurance companies and responsible parties, and we’re not afraid to take cases to trial if that’s what it takes to get you fair compensation.
We offer free consultations, so there’s no risk in talking to us about your case. We can explain your options, help you understand what your case might be worth, and answer any questions you have about the legal process.
You can reach us at (888)-668-1182, or you can visit our office at 301 N Main St, Pueblo, CO 81003. We’re here to help you get through this difficult time and move forward with your life.
Don’t Wait Too Long
Colorado has a statute of limitations for personal injury claims – generally three years from the date of the accident. While that might seem like a long time, it takes time to properly investigate construction zone accidents and build a strong case.
The sooner you get started, the better we can preserve evidence, talk to witnesses, and document the conditions that contributed to your accident.
Final Thoughts: You Deserve Better Than Just Getting By
Construction zone accidents can totally flip your life upside down in ways you never expected. What starts as a routine drive to work or home can end with serious injuries, financial stress, and months of dealing with insurance companies and doctor’s appointments.
But here’s what I want you to remember: you don’t have to just accept whatever the insurance companies offer you. You don’t have to struggle with medical bills while the people responsible for your accident walk away without consequences. You have rights, and you deserve to have those rights protected.
The construction companies working on I-25 have a responsibility to keep you safe. When they fail to do that, they should be held accountable. The government agencies overseeing these projects have a duty to ensure proper safety standards. When they fall short, they should face consequences.
Most importantly, you deserve compensation that actually covers your losses – not just the bare minimum that insurance companies hope you’ll accept.
If you’ve been hurt in a construction zone accident on I-25, please don’t try to handle it alone. Get the help you need to protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve. Your future is just too important to leave to chance.
Remember, we’re here when you’re ready to take that next step. Give us a call at (888)-668-1182 or stop by our office. We’ll sit down with you, listen to your story, and help you figure out the best path forward. That’s what we’re here for, and that’s what you deserve.
