Construction Zone Accidents in Mobile County: Who Is Responsible?

Mobile County Is Always Under Construction

If you drive anywhere in Mobile County, you have noticed that road construction seems to be a permanent feature of the landscape. The I-65 corridor through Saraland, the I-10 Bayway, the US-98 widening projects, and countless smaller road improvement projects throughout the county create a patchwork of lane closures, detours, uneven pavement, and confusing signage that drivers must navigate daily.

Construction zones are inherently dangerous. Lanes narrow without warning. Traffic patterns shift overnight. Speed limits drop but are inconsistently enforced. Workers and heavy equipment operate feet from passing traffic. The Alabama Department of Transportation reports that construction zone accidents account for a significant percentage of serious injury crashes in the state each year.

Multiple Parties May Be Liable

What makes construction zone accidents legally complex is that multiple parties may share responsibility. The at-fault driver is the most obvious defendant, but they may not be the only one. The construction company may be liable if they failed to set up proper signage, barricades, or traffic control devices. The government entity that hired the contractor, whether ALDOT, Mobile County, or a city government, may be liable if they approved an unsafe traffic plan or failed to oversee the project.

Subcontractors who were responsible for specific aspects of the work zone, such as flagging operations or barrier placement, may also bear responsibility. Even the engineering firm that designed the traffic control plan could be liable if the plan was defective.

Identifying all responsible parties is critical because it expands the pool of available insurance coverage. A single driver may carry only $25,000 in liability coverage, but a construction company's commercial policy may provide millions in coverage.

Common Construction Zone Hazards in Mobile County

The most common construction zone hazards that cause accidents in Mobile County include sudden lane shifts with inadequate warning, uneven pavement where old road surface meets new, missing or confusing signage, inadequate lighting in nighttime work zones, loose gravel and debris in travel lanes, and construction vehicles entering and exiting the work zone.

The I-65 construction projects through Saraland have been particularly problematic, with drivers reporting sudden lane closures, missing lane markings, and construction equipment parked dangerously close to travel lanes. The I-10 Bayway project has created similar hazards for drivers crossing Mobile Bay.

If you were injured in a construction zone accident, document the specific hazard that caused or contributed to the crash. Photograph missing signs, uneven pavement, debris, or any other condition that was unsafe. This evidence is essential for proving that the construction company or government entity was negligent.

Government Immunity and How to Overcome It

When a government entity like ALDOT or Mobile County is potentially liable for a construction zone accident, you face an additional legal hurdle: sovereign immunity. Alabama law generally protects government entities from lawsuits, but there are important exceptions. The Alabama Tort Claims Act allows claims against state entities in certain circumstances, and the discretionary function exception does not protect the government when it fails to follow its own safety standards.

Filing a claim against a government entity also involves strict deadlines. You must provide written notice of your claim within a specific timeframe, and failure to do so can bar your case entirely.

Construction zone accident cases require an attorney who understands both personal injury law and the complexities of government liability. Call attorney Cody Poe at (251) 298-8454 for a free consultation. He handles construction zone accident cases throughout Mobile County and can help you identify all responsible parties and navigate the claims process.