Florida Construction Injury Lawyer: Motorcyclist Killed Because of Unsafe Road Surface

Brandon Stein

As a Florida construction lawyer that sues for those injured in car or motorcycle accidents in North Miami, I find that many accidents result from unpaved or unsafe road surfaces.  The responsibility of paving a public roadway can fall directly on the shoulders of a construction company hired to repair or renovate an existing roadway.

In Florida, when a roadway or highway is open for public use, it is imperative that a construction company adheres to Florida Statutes pertaining to the uniform standards for design, construction, and maintenance as required by the Florida Department of Transportation.  In South Florida, failure to ensure safely paved roadways can lead to catastrophic injury from car accidents or motorcycle accidents, thus requiring the assistance of a lawyer.

However, this requirement imposed on construction companies is not just limited to Florida.  One way or the other, every state has its own standards for maintenance and construction of roadways — including providing safely paved roads for the public. Unfortunately, this weekend I was extremely saddened to hear news of a fatal motorcycle accident in a construction zone.

This past Friday afternoon on Highway 52 in Iowa, a 44 year old motorcyclist was killed after crashing in a construction area — the accident was allegedly caused by defects in the roadway surface.  According to reports, the pavement was uneven, which resulted in the motorcycle losing control while passing through the construction site.  The 44 year old was killed instantly and the accident is under investigation.

In Florida, construction accident and car accident lawyers are well versed in the laws requiring the Department of Transportation to develop and adopt uniform standards and specifications for the safe construction of roadways and highways. However, just because the Department of Transportation sets forth certain standards for the proper construction of roadways, including those that are paved and safe for use by the public, it does not mean that construction companies follow these rules.

The motorcycle accident death detailed above is a prime example of construction companies allowing traffic to ambulate through their work sites with an unsafe road surface.  Car accidents or motorcycle accidents occurring in construction areas frequently result in significant injury — and a subsequent phone call to a personal injury lawyer.  Therefore, I urge all construction site supervisors to be cognizant of the standards and rules set forth by the Florida Department of Transportation, for they are in place to help prevent injury at construction sites.

Specifically, unsafe road surfaces and unfinished pavement frequently leads to injury, especially for motorcyclists and bicyclists.  Being a North Miami construction site injury lawyer, too many times I come across car accidents or bike accidents due to issues with the pavement.  This is all too easy to prevent.

If you or someone you know was injured in a construction area or due to an unsafe road surface, please contact us today.

By: Brandon Stein