Liability for Inglewood Work Zone Crashes

Lane closures, detours, and heavy equipment have become a regular part of driving in Inglewood. When a collision happens inside a work zone, the driver who hit you may not be the only party responsible. Contractors and public agencies can share fault, and identifying each one affects how much compensation is available.

Why Work Zones Are Dangerous

Work zones require drivers to adjust to narrowed lanes, sudden merges, and uneven pavement, often with little warning. These conditions leave little room for error. Ongoing development near SoFi Stadium and the Intuit Dome has made lane closures common on corridors such as Prairie Avenue and Century Boulevard.

The risk is not limited to road crews. According to the Federal Highway Administration, 891 people died in work zone crashes nationwide in 2022, and most of them were drivers or passengers.

Parties Who May Share Fault

The Other Driver

California treats traffic violations in construction areas seriously. Under Vehicle Code Section 42009, fines for certain offenses double when traffic is restricted or workers are present.

Speeding through a closure, texting while driving, and following too closely are frequent causes of work zone collisions. A driver who causes a car accident through any of these behaviors can be held liable for the resulting injuries.

The Construction Contractor

Contractors who set up lane closures must follow the California MUTCD, which sets standards for signs, cones, flaggers, and lane transitions. A contractor may share liability for problems such as these.

• Missing or confusing warning signs
• Lane shifts that are too abrupt for the posted speed
• Steel plates, loose gravel, or uneven pavement left in travel lanes
• Equipment or materials stored too close to traffic
• Flaggers who are poorly trained or badly positioned

A collision with a dump truck or cement mixer pulling into traffic may support a claim against both the operator and the company that employs the driver.

Public Agencies

When the City of Inglewood or Caltrans designs or manages a project, a dangerous condition on public property can create government liability. These claims have a short deadline. Government Code Section 911.2 requires a claim to be presented within six months of the injury.

When Fault Is Shared

Two or more parties often contribute to a single crash. California’s shared fault rules divide responsibility by percentage, and each insurer will try to push blame onto someone else, including you.

Evidence disappears quickly. Signs move and lane configurations change as work progresses. Traffic control plans, inspection logs, and photographs can show how the zone looked on the day of the crash, and an Inglewood, CA construction accident lawyer can request those records before they are lost.

Pedestrians face added danger when sidewalks close and temporary walkways run beside moving traffic. Workers struck by passing vehicles usually receive workers’ compensation. But they may also bring third-party claims against a negligent driver or another contractor.

Cohen Injury Law Group represents drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and workers hurt in work zone collisions. If you were injured near a construction project and want an Inglewood construction accident lawyer to identify every responsible party, contact our office to discuss your case.