Case Background

Derek Oliveira filed a negligence lawsuit against Skanska-Granite-Lane (SGL), a joint venture, in Orange County, Florida. On June 23, 2020, Oliveira drove his 2014 Mazda CX9 eastbound on Fairbanks Avenue and attempted to turn onto the I-4 eastbound entrance ramp at MM87. SGL was conducting construction on the ramp as part of the I-4 Project. In the weeks leading up to the incident, SGL frequently altered the ramp’s layout, including placing and removing warning signs, barrels, and barricades. On the day of the crash, much of the safety signage was no longer present.

Cause

According to the complaint, SGL created a confusing and dangerous construction zone. The firm failed to clearly mark the ramp’s safe lanes of travel. By June 23, 2020, it had removed essential barriers, warning lights, and signage from the ramp entrance. Only two barrels remained, neither of which blocked traffic. A low-profile concrete barrier, lacking reflectors or crash protection, stood near the merge point. Oliveira, attempting to merge safely onto I-4, unknowing