Despite the sacrifices, physical pain, and emotional toll that the coronavirus pandemic is causing across the country, there are some glimmers of good news. Actor John Krasinski is doing his part to spread cheer with his YouTube series “Some Good News,” in which he harnesses his celebrity connections to foster feel-good moments for people affected by the disease. A recent episode, for example, featured a live-stream prom for teenagers who can’t participate in their in-person end-of-year school activities. The virtual dance included performances by the Jonas Brothers and Billie Eilish.
Among the other glimmers of hope during these dark days? Accidents of almost all kinds are decreasing, simply because people are sheltering at home and therefore staying out of harm’s way. For example, even though construction continues apace and many projects are finishing ahead of schedule because there are fewer cars on the road, construction accidents are now fewer and further between.
According to a study out of the University of California, Davis, traffic across the state has dropped by as much as 55% percent. That is great news for Caltrans and for construction companies, many of which are now able to put workers on the day shift. Traditionally, highway and road construction crews often worked during the night hours, when traffic volumes were lower. Now that there’s a stay-at-home order in place in most of California, however, the crews can go out during the daytime and complete road repairs and new construction projects.
Of course, even with traffic roughly halved on many of the states’ highways and byways, there’s still a lot of cars on the road. This is California, after all! And the Davis study found that each day, there are still some 500 or so “collision incidents,” which refers to car or vehicle accidents whether or not they involve injuries.
In addition, many construction accidents don’t necessarily involve cars, but instead are due to carelessness on the part of the workers, unsafe materials or conditions, or even the construction firm’s negligence. Although some statistics claim accident rates are down, they still do occur, says a construction accident lawyer from The Barnes Firm California. If you or someone you love has been injured in a construction-related incident, it may be wise to contact legal counsel and explore your options.
How are you coping with quarantine? Are you continuing to drive, or have you found your gas bills slashed because you’re staying in? Let us know what your experience is by commenting below!
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