17 August, 2023

What You Need to Know about Highway Work Zones in Illinois

You no doubt know exactly how inconvenient work zones can be, but you may not realize how much danger they pose – especially when they are not managed well or when other motorists fail to observe all the necessary safety precautions. When you have a better understanding of work zones, it can help you navigate them more safely. And if you are injured in a work zone accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you need the skilled legal guidance of an experienced Illinois car accident attorney in your corner.

Work Zone Accidents

Because work zone accidents occur on contained segments of the road – leaving little leeway for safety corrections – they tend to be exceptionally serious. They also put road workers – who do not have a car’s protective shell to buffer them from the impact of an accident – at increased risk. This is why there are important work zone laws on the books.

Scott’s Law

Scott’s Law, which is also called the Move Over Law, was named for firefighter Scott Gillen who, while assisting at a car crash, was struck and killed by a drunk driver. This law requires all drivers to adhere to the following rules whenever approaching a stationary vehicle that has oscillating warning lights – whether it’s an official or commercial vehicle:

Reduce your driving speed.
If it’s possible to do so safely, change lanes.
Proceed with all necessary caution.

Penalties associated with Scott’s Law were recently raised, and a first offense comes with a $250 fine, while a second offense can lead to fines as high as $10,000.

Laws against Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is dangerous, and it is even more so in construction zones. In Illinois, motorists can only use their phones in a hands-free capacity, and texting or doing anything else online is similarly illegal. Other actions like eating and drinking, grooming, having a conversation with someone else in the car, and digging around to find something can all be forms of dangerous distraction that make work zone accidents more likely.

Speeding

Speeding is always a serious concern on Illinois roadways, and the associated danger increases significantly in work zones. The fines associated with exceeding the speed limit in road construction, which generally requires reduced speeds, are significantly higher than they are elsewhere.

Hitting a Construction Worker

If a motorist’s negligence causes a construction worker to be harmed in Illinois, the at-fault driver can face a maximum fine of $25,000, and the penalties can include jail time.

An Experienced Illinois Car Accident Attorney Can Help

The practiced car accident attorneys at The Horwitz Law Group – proudly serving Chicago – dedicate their imposing practice to helping car accident victims recover fully for their physical, financial, and emotional losses – in pursuit of their renewed health and well-being. To learn more about what we can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to reach out and schedule a free initial consultation by contacting us today.

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Testimonials

Great service and a great team, I'm really truly very very satisfied with the outcome of my case, I really appreciate all the work Mr. Duggan and his team have done on my case, I highly recommend him to anyone, great job.

Kelly S.

Jared was AMAZING! I highly recommend his service. He was fast to answer my questions and concerns. I appreciated the fact that he made me feel like I was a priority. He worked diligently to assist me and I am well pleased. Thank you, Jared D… You ROCK!!

Annisha W.

He is absolutely the best lawyer ever !!! Works fast and is always ready

Danny F.

I would like to thank The Horwitz Law Group. Thanks for everything they have done for me. It was a very long case. But they never gave up on me. Anyone that is in need of help, please contact them. Special thanks to Lulu and the best Jared Duggan ❤️. Thanks for everything.

Darlene W.

Type of Case: Mass Transit Accident (Metra) Result: $2.1 million dollars “I was in a Metra Train Accident in September 2005, and I hired Mark Horwitz as my lawyer. My experience with Mark has been wonderful. He’s very considerate. He’s caring. Every time he calls me, the first thing that he says is, how are you feeling and how is your family, and I really, really appreciate that. If I didn’t have Mark Horwitz as my lawyer, I think I’d…

Marie B

Former Chicago Police Officer Type of Injury: Premises Liability Accident Resulting in Below the Knee Amputation Result: $1,400,000.00 “After all my experiences with attorneys, Mark Horwitz was one of the finest attorneys I’ve ever met. He not only was my attorney, he was my friend. He extended himself far more beyond the attorney/client relationship. I couldn’t ask for a better attorney. I couldn’t ask for a better friend. And I would definitely, without question, recommend him to anyone who needs…

Charles B.

Type of Injury: Personal Injury Initial Offer: $50,000.00 Jury Verdict:$1,197,000.00 Johnnie B. W. Jr. was a professional basketball player back in the 1970s. In 2002 while getting off a CTA red line train, the trainman closed the doors on Mr. Williams while he was exiting the train. At the time, Mr. Williams was wearing a backpack that became lodged in the doors. The train began to move and Mr. W. ran along the platform until the train’s speed prevented him…

Johnnie W.

Type of Injury: Personal Injury Final Offer: $75,000.00 Final Judgment: $100,000.00 On October 7, 2007, Ms. Bogan was driving her automobile on Interstate 57 when she noticed a car stopped in one of the moving lanes. When she looked to see what was happening, she saw a man slumped over his steering wheel who was not moving. Being a good Samaritan, Ms. Bogan parked her vehicle in front of the disabled vehicle and got out to see if the driver…

Kimberly B.

Type of Injury: Personal Injury Final Offer: $60,000.00 Final Settlement: $100,000.00 In the summer of 2008, the father of a minor child (whose name is withheld because he is 5 years old) backed over his son while leaving his home. The child had gone under the car to retrieve a Mr. Potato Head doll that had rolled under the car. The father, not knowing his son was under the car, started it and backed down the driveway. Hearing screams, he…

Tanya M.

Type of Injury: Car Accident Final Offer: $60,000.00 Final Judgment: $175,000.00 Rosetta Glover was a passenger in her husband’s car traveling on Martin Luther King Drive. A cab came around their car and made a sudden U turn in front of them causing the accident. Ms. Glover sustained an injury to her shoulder which required an immediate surgery. She hired another Chicago lawyer who obtained a settlement offer from the cab company for $60,000.00 and told Ms. Glover to accept…

Rosetta G.

I wanted to thank for all the work you have done to help me with my situation. I really appreciate you not giving up despite my indecisive attitude in the beginning . I’m glad to have met you and that represented me. You changed my perspective on lawyers and I cannot repay you for the hard work you did in the past year. You made my situation easier and not only do I respect you as the hard working lawyer…

Lamiela P.

My daughter was severely injured in a car accident and I was nervous about finding a personal injury attorney, but from the start, I felt confident with my choice in the Horwitz Law Group. Mark was completely professional, trustworthy, communicative, honest and helpful. He kept my daughter focused throughout her entire recovery, both emotionally and medically. He was extremely attentive and responsive answering each and every question I had in a timely manner and explained everything in laymen terms -…

Steve S.

Case Results

$4,500,000.00

for a young lady who was run over by a private waste hauling company while crossing the street.

$2,100,000.00

for a client injured in a 2005 Metra train derailment case.

$2,300,000.00

for a client whose family was killed by a street sweeper that ran a red light.

$1,400,000.00

for a premises liability accident resulting in below the knee amputation.

$1,200,000.00

for a woman who was hit by a car while crossing the street.

$1,197,000.00

for a client who was injured on the CTA red line train.

$175,000.00

for a client who had lawyers at another law firm trying to settle the accident case for only $60,000.

$100,000.00

for a client who was crushed between two cars nearly severing off her leg.

$100,000.00

for a client whose son was accidentally run over by her husband as he backed out of their driveway.

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Blog

What You Need to Know about Highway Work Zones in Illinois

Work Zone Accidents

Scott’s Law

Laws against Distracted Driving

Speeding

Hitting a Construction Worker

An Experienced Illinois Car Accident Attorney Can Help

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Archives

Testimonials

Kelly S.

Annisha W.

Danny F.

Darlene W.

Marie B

Charles B.

Johnnie W.

Kimberly B.

Tanya M.

Rosetta G.

Lamiela P.

Steve S.

Case Results

$4,500,000.00

$2,100,000.00

$2,300,000.00

$1,400,000.00

$1,200,000.00

$1,197,000.00

$175,000.00

$100,000.00

$100,000.00

Tell Us About Your Case

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