In Minnesota, we often say the state has two seasons: winter and construction. Springtime enters in with orange cones, reduced speed limits, and unfortunately, a significant increase in serious collisions. Work zones ramping up in the Twin Cities region and across the state create unique driving challenges in traffic that is already congested. Even the most experienced drivers can get caught off guard and be unable to avoid a crash.

At TSR Injury Law, our experienced attorneys have represented countless crash victims, including those injured in road work construction zones. We understand the complex factors that contribute to these incidents and are ready to fight for your legal rights and best interests.

Need legal help after a car crash in a Minneapolis or Bloomington work zone? Call our law offices today to get answers to your questions and learn more about your legal options. Your initial consultation is completely free, and when we represent you, there are no upfront costs or fees to pay.

Call TSR Injury Law today (612) TSR-TIME or complete our short and confidential evaluation form online. We would be honored to help you.

What Exactly Is a Work Zone Car Crash?

A work zone crash includes any collision that occurs while a driver is approaching, navigating, or exiting an area where roadwork construction is in progress.

When work zones – or Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) zones – are set up along a traffic route, they are laid out and marked by channelizing devices – such as cones, drums, barricades, or concrete barriers. Signage strategically placed in the area is intended to help drivers navigate more safely through or around these areas.

Why Are There So Many Work Zone Car Crashes in Minnesota?

Minnesota’s harsher weather generally means a shorter, more concentrated construction season. This year, as a prime example, local news station, Kare 11 reported that MnDOT has 180 construction projects planned for the 2025 season to repair various roads and bridges across the state. That road work does not include 51 other projects planned for our airports, railroad crossings and other transit infrastructures.

While it is necessary to maintain our infrastructure, it is important to recognize the significant impact construction has on road safety for road workers and drivers.

In addition to the shorter “good weather” seasons, factors that may determine the number of work zone crashes in Minnesota include:

Heavy Volumes of Traffic

Heavy traffic is another contributing factor for work zone crashes in many areas. Many of the surrounding highways in the Twin Cities, like I-494, I-35W, and I-94, see high volumes of commuters every day. According to MN Crash statistics for 2025, there have already been 761 work zone crashes in the area.

Driver Error and Negligence

Even without heavy traffic to contend with, driver error, negligence, and reckless behavior are still the leading causes of crashes in road construction zones.

• Daily commuters familiar with their route may be less focused on the road and miss seeing any signs.
• Visitors traveling through the area may get confused and go the wrong way, especially if the signs are not well placed.
• Reckless drivers may often approach a work zone area going too fast, especially if they are impaired. They may react to the sudden change in the road by swerving into another lane of traffic or slamming on their brakes, possibly triggering a chain-reaction pile-up.

Fewer and Tighter Travel Lanes

Reduced travel lanes force vehicles to drive closer together with workers and heavy equipment operating nearby. If any equipment or workers are in the road, it can be a disaster waiting to happen. Even if drivers slow down, it may not be enough to avoid a rear-end collision or hitting a flagger who is trying to direct traffic.

Why Minneapolis Work Zone Crashes Are More Dangerous Than Other Collisions

Minnesota work zone crashes tend to be more dangerous than some other types of collisions due to the confined nature of construction areas. Because the lanes are narrowed or merged, there is less margin for error. When drivers fail to slow down while navigating this tighter space, there is no time to react or correct, so the risk of a crash is much greater. Even smaller vehicles need sufficient time and space to slow down.

The concrete barriers you see in many road construction zones help protect construction workers and their equipment from passing traffic. However, depending on the circumstances, these barriers can pose unique hazards, leading to single-vehicle crashes with a fixed object or multi-vehicle crashes.

Is It True People Driving Through Work Zones Are More Likely to Be Injured Than Road or Construction Workers?

Yes. Statistics show that drivers involved in crashes while navigating through work zone areas account for most of the injuries and fatalities. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), drivers account for 61 percent of all fatal work zone crashes nationwide. Pedestrian workers, which includes flaggers, account for an additional 54 work zone deaths each year.

What Are the Leading Causes of Crashes in Minnesota Road Work Zones?

Work zone crashes happen when drivers fail to adjust their driving behavior for changing road conditions. Most crashes occur because drivers do not slow down, follow too closely, or make sudden lane changes when approaching construction areas.

Common causes of work zone crashes include:

• Following Too Closely: A shorter following distance increases the risk of a crash in a construction zone. Tighter spaces and heavier traffic call for longer, not shorter following distances to allow more time to stop.
• Excessive Speed: Many drivers fail to reduce speed when entering work zones. Not only is this a violation of state law, but it is also dangerous and greatly increases the risk of a catastrophic collision.
• Sudden Lane Changes: Drivers who make last-minute merges when they see lane closure signs ahead give no time for vehicles around them to react.
• Distracted Driving: Using phones, adjusting vehicle controls, or engaging in other types of distracted behavior are all extremely dangerous while navigating confusing work zone traffic patterns.
• Aggressive Driving: Impatient drivers weave between lanes or tailgate to save time in slow-moving construction traffic.
• Poor Weather Visibility: Rain, fog, or low light conditions make it harder to see workers, equipment, and changing lane markings.
• Inadequate Signage: Confusing or poorly placed warning signs leave drivers unprepared for sudden changes ahead.

Who May Be Liable if You Get Injured in a Work Zone Car Crash in Minnesota?

Before fault can be determined, crash investigators need to first examine all contributing factors, including the actions of all parties involved. In work zone crashes, there may often be multiple parties sharing liability, depending on various circumstances and how the collision occurred.

Construction Companies

Construction companies face liability when they fail to follow mandated safety protocols. This includes improper placement of traffic control devices, inadequate worker training, or failure to maintain required safety zones around equipment.

Equipment Operators and Subcontractors

Equipment operators and subcontractors each carry their own potential liability. Heavy machinery operators who fail to follow safety protocols or operate equipment negligently can be held responsible for crashes. Subcontractors responsible for specific tasks like traffic control or signage placement may face liability if their work contributes to a collision.

Manufacturers

Manufacturers may also face liability for any defective equipment, barriers, or safety devices if they contribute to or cause a construction zone crash.

Each party’s percentage of responsibility depends on the specific circumstances of the collision and how their actions or failures contributed to the incident.

What Type of Evidence May Help to Support a Minnesota Work Zone Crash Claim?

Crash investigators will examine all available evidence to determine what happened. Evidence that can help to support your claim includes pictures of the crash scene and vehicle damage, witness statements, dashcam or traffic camera footage – and more.

Work zone crashes may yield other more specific evidence as well, such as:

• Traffic Control Plans (TCPs): These plans break down and define the different zones needed to alert approaching drivers properly, so they have time to slow their vehicles and adjust their driving. This is a simple explanation, but in reality, construction companies need to make sure these plans meet certain regulatory requirements. They also need to get a permit/prior approval before any TCP can be implemented.
• Daily Work Site Logs: These logs contain a lot of details about the work site and what happens during a work day. If a safety problem, like a crash, occurs, the log should document what was happening leading up to that incident. Other factors generally recorded in these logs include delays, whether the TCP was properly implemented and followed that day, whether any machinery was used, what workers were on site at the time, weather conditions and much more.
• Location of Machinery and Other Equipment: Investigators will research whether machinery or other equipment created a hazard or contributed to the crash in some way. This information could be especially relevant to your crash.
• Statements From Witness, Construction Workers, and Supervisors: Witnesses, construction workers, and others may have more information about factors that may have contributed to or caused your work zone crash.

Why Evidence in Work Zone Cases is Time Sensitive

Work zone evidence can disappear quickly as construction projects progress. Construction companies regularly move equipment, change traffic patterns, and modify signage configurations as work advances. What exists at the crash scene today may be completely different within days or even hours. Traffic control devices get repositioned, warning signs are moved or updated, and machinery locations change constantly.

This rapid evolution of work zone conditions makes immediate evidence preservation critical. Daily work logs that document equipment positions and worker activities on the day of the crash may be the only way to reconstruct the exact conditions that existed at the time of the collision. Construction supervisors and workers who witnessed the crash may be harder to locate later, as they may be reassigned to projects in different locations.

How Insurance Companies View Car Crash Claims in Minnesota Work Zones

Insurance companies approach work zone crash claims differently than they would for other collisions because they present a complex web of potential liability. Crashes in work zone areas often involve multiple insurance policies, including the driver’s auto coverage, construction company liability, traffic control contractor insurance, and sometimes government entity coverage.

Insurers may actively delay your claim to give them time to investigate ways to shift blame and minimize their own financial responsibility. Given the opportunity, they will pursue recovery from other parties to reduce their portion of the payout. This strategy of spreading liability across multiple responsible parties allows insurers to minimize their exposure even when the total claim value remains high.

When to Contact a Minnesota Lawyer After a Work Zone Collision

Sometimes a crash may occur despite your best efforts to avoid one. Work zone crashes often involve complex liability issues and multiple at-fault parties. If you find yourself in this situation, having an experienced legal team manage your case can make all the difference to the outcome of your claim.

At TSR Injury Law, our knowledgeable car crash attorneys serving Minneapolis and Bloomington are prepared to help. We have a proven history of securing favorable outcomes for our clients, and we always work diligently to recover the maximum possible compensation.

As for all car crash claims, deadlines apply, and it is better to call sooner than later. Since we take injury claims on contingency, there are no upfront costs or fees to pay. We only get paid if you do.

Call (612) TSR-TIME to get started today. We work hard so you don’t have to.