There is no official Vermont average for road-work crash settlements, but these cases often range from thousands to six figures depending on surgery, scarring, lost wages, and fault.

What should have happened: after a crash in a work zone on roads like Putney Road or near a lane shift by I-91 Exit 2, you should have gotten medical care immediately, reported the crash, and avoided guessing or apologizing about fault. But an apology does not automatically kill a Vermont injury claim.

What matters under Vermont law is comparative negligence. Vermont follows a modified comparative negligence rule: you can still recover damages if you were 50% or less at fault, but your money is reduced by your percentage of blame. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing. So "I'm sorry" is not the same as admitting legal fault. Insurers still have to prove you caused the crash.

What to do now: act fast.

• Get the police crash report from Brattleboro Police Department or Vermont State Police, depending on who responded.
• Take photos of the work zone, signs, cones, flagger position, lane markings, and any heavy equipment.
• Ask nearby businesses or homes for video before it is deleted.
• Keep every medical record, especially if you have an Achilles injury, facial scarring, or another injury that can worsen over days.
• Do not give a recorded statement to the other side's insurer yet.

If you are undocumented, filing an injury claim does not require you to prove lawful immigration status to make the claim exist. Do not let fear stop you from getting treatment or preserving evidence.

What comes next: the insurer will likely argue you were speeding, ignored a flagger, merged badly, or were distracted in the construction zone. Your job is to lock down evidence before it disappears. Vermont generally gives you 3 years to file a personal injury lawsuit, but waiting even days or weeks can cost you video, witness names, and proof of how the work zone was set up. Vermont also has no cap on non-economic damages, so pain, scarring, and long-term limitations can be fully claimed.