What happened in the zone?
Southern Nevada is always under construction. Pick the situation closest to yours to see who may be responsible and what evidence matters.
Why work zone cases are different
In an ordinary crash, the question is usually which driver was at fault. In a construction zone there is a second question: was the zone itself safe?
- More parties. General contractors, traffic control companies, paving and utility subcontractors, haulers, and public agencies can each play a part.
- Written standards. Projects are generally required to follow an approved traffic control plan. Whether the zone matched that plan is often the heart of the case.
- Evidence that disappears. Cones move, lanes shift, and pavement gets finished. What the zone looked like on the day of your crash has to be captured quickly.
- Special rules for public agencies. Claims involving the State, a county, or a city follow their own rules and limits.
After a work zone crash
- Get safe and call 911. Move out of traffic if you can and get medical help for anyone hurt.
- Photograph the zone, not just the cars. Signs, cones, lane lines, pavement, and equipment, from the direction you were traveling.
- Get names. Other drivers, witnesses, and the name of the construction company on trucks or signs.
- See a doctor. Get checked the same day, even if you feel fine.
- Talk to an attorney before the other side's insurer. Do not give a recorded statement or sign anything first.
Common questions
What counts as a cone zone or work zone injury?
Any injury tied to road construction, maintenance, or utility work: a crash in or approaching the zone, a fall on a closed sidewalk or detour, a motorcycle going down on a torn-up surface, or a worker struck on the job.
Who can be held responsible?
It depends on what caused the crash. It may be another driver, the general contractor, a traffic control or paving subcontractor, a trucking company, an equipment maker, or the public agency that owns the road. Often it is more than one.
Do I need a police report?
Call the police after any crash with an injury. The report records the location, the people involved, and the officer's observations, and insurers expect it. Injuries that seem minor at the scene often turn out to be more serious.
What if I was partly at fault?
Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can still recover if your share of the fault is not greater than that of the parties you are claiming against, and your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
How long do I have to bring a claim?
In most Nevada personal injury cases the lawsuit must be filed within two years of the injury. Some claims have other deadlines or notice requirements, particularly those involving public agencies. Do not wait to find out which applies to you.
Hurt in a cone zone? Find out where you stand.
The review is free and carries no obligation. The layout of a work zone changes quickly, so the sooner the facts are captured, the better.