The nature of a person’s work can involve exposure to many different dangers. This has prompted Kansas and many other states to enact protective laws, such as requiring use of protective equipment and clothing, to ensure the safety of workers in Topeka, Kansas City, and every road in between. Sometimes construction site accidents occur despite workers following the most stringent safety protocols. This is due in part to the nature of construction work, which often involves using heavy machinery and power tools. Thus, the death of a worker in a construction site accident is as much a general safety concern as a tragedy.
A recent incident resulted in the death of a 48-year-old construction worker at a highway site after a dump truck ran over the worker while backing up. Although the truck was moving slowly, and despite the worker wearing a hard hat and a safety vest, she was unable to avoid the vehicle, having only noticed it moments before the accident. Co-workers at the site apparently tried to scream a warning to the worker as well as the 25-year-old truck driver but the noisy environment made it impossible for them to be heard.
A police highway patrol investigation found that the woman, whose task involved routing traffic using signs, was kneeling on the road surface when the truck hit her.
The accident understandably shocked long-time colleagues on site and elsewhere. While her family might consider a legal route for monetary compensation, their loss can never really be adequately recompensed. Victims of construction accidents are usually eligible for workers’ compensation, but compensation amounts are likely to be determined by the insurance limit purchased by the employer. This limit ultimately may prompt a court battle. Having an experienced attorney deal with the legal issues may grant surviving family members the opportunity to grieve in peace.
Source: News9.com, “Edmond Woman Working Construction Killed On Interstate 44“, Allison Harris, March 22, 2014
