Road work is a constant occurrence in California. While drivers might lament that and complain about how it snarls traffic, few will dispute its necessity and how these workers are placed in danger just by the sheer nature and location of their job. Some drivers who encounter workers on the side of the road will simply ignore them and drive as fast as they normally do. Others might be distracted. This can cause a crash with injuries and death.
A pickup truck hit a vehicle transporting workers who were involved in roadside cleanup, injuring three. The vehicle and a trailer were stopped on the side of the road. There were five people working in the area around 11:30 a.m. The van rolled over after impact. One of the injured workers was said to have been badly hurt. The other two had minor injuries. It is believed that the pickup driver was distracted at the time of the crash. The investigation into the work accident is ongoing.
Workers who are employed doing road work are susceptible to workplace injuries. If they are injured, they may miss time on the job, costing them money and accruing medical expenses. While accidents such as the one described above might not be viewed as a conventional workplace accident, these workers are in major jeopardy due to their location and the job they are doing. The simple act of a driver looking away from the road for a split-second can change the workers’ lives forever.
When workers are injured on-the-job, they should remember that they may be able to be compensated through workers’ compensation benefits. Workers’ compensation is a fundamental part of protecting workers. After injuries, this can be integral to covering wages, medical costs and more.