Mother nature can often complicate the best of plans. In some cases, weather events and conditions can create dangerous road conditions, including an increased risk of mudslides. While crews attempt to clean up these conditions, they could become involved in construction accidents. For example, crews in California are currently investigating a recent incident that killed one worker and left another injured.
The incident happened one afternoon on a day in February. According to reports, two men were working at the site of a mudslide on a California highway. A dump truck reportedly backed over the two men. It is unclear if the dump truck was equipped with backup warning alarms.
One of the workers, a 54-year-old man, died as a result of injuries suffered in the accident. The second worker, a 34-year-old man, was trapped and required extrication. When he was transported to the hospital, he was reportedly conscious and communicating with rescue workers. No citations have been issued, but the incident remains under investigation.
The aftermath of construction accidents often involve investigations by both federal and local officials; while such an investigation can help determine what caused an accident and result in additional safety measures to prevent similar ones in the future, it will likely provide little solace to the deceased man’s grieving family. Many families who have lost a loved one due to a workplace accident struggle financially as a result of their loss. Both the injured man and the family of the deceased worker may be unable to meet their financial demands while also coping with lost wages. Fortunately, they likely qualify for workers’ compensation insurance benefits. To seek a fair settlement, many people who deserve such benefits ask for help from a professional with experience with the process.
Source: montereyherald.com, “Road worker killed by dump truck on Highway 17“, Mark Gomez, Robert Salonga and Tracy Seipel, Feb. 9, 2017
