Since California is a state where the roads are a primary way for people to get back and forth, they will require a significant amount of repair and maintenance. Infrastructure is critical for a municipality to function efficiently, and workers are needed to do the jobs to keep the roads safe and passable. While drivers might lament roadwork and the time it takes to get past it, most will understand the need to operate their vehicles slowly and safely when passing a road crew.
Some, however, will not be so conscientious. Speeding, recklessness and driving under the influence can put road workers in danger, cause accidents and lead to injuries and worse. Workers who were hurt must remember their right to workers’ compensation benefits to cover for medical costs and lost wages.
A crash between an alleged drunk driver and a contractor’s vehicle led to two workers being injured on the job. The incident happened at shortly before 11 p.m. The law enforcement investigation says that the workers were in the middle of repainting freeway stripes. The 24-year-old driver of a 2008 Toyota Prius disregarded and overran traffic cones. A 2008 Ford F-250 work truck that was shadowing the road workers was hit from behind by the Prius. The truck driver, age 30, and a road worker, age 36, were taken to the hospital after complaining of pain. The driver of the Prius broke his foot. He was taken to the hospital, released and then arrested.
While workers might think that injuries suffered on the job will automatically warrant an approval for workers’ compensation benefits, that is not always the case. The claim must be submitted in the appropriate time frame and completed as instructed. For workers who are confronted with injuries and the inability to get back on the job, there can be trepidation as to what the future holds. Workers’ compensation is supposed to assuage that worry, but issues often arise making it vital to have legal help.