Risky working conditions are a daily fact of life for many Ohioans with dangerous jobs. Yet, they go to work and do their job, often confident that safety procedures will keep them safe from a workplace injury. Unfortunately, sometimes workers are involved in accidents which can put them out of work temporarily or even permanently depending on the injuries severity.
One of these professions is road construction workers, who are often faced with not only accidents by the nature of construction work, but also by the added danger the passing traffic. While Ohio has strict fines for reckless driving while in construction zones, that does not always prevent accidents.
In fact, a young man working on road construction along State Route 534 was recently injured in an accident with a passing automobile. According to reports from the Ohio Highway Patrol, the 18-year-old worker was injured on the job after a distracted driver struck him as he flagged traffic past a construction zone. The driver was reportedly looking at an electronic tablet device at the time of the accident. The injured worker was transported to the Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital with serious injuries.
In situations such as this, workers' compensation will very likely be used to cover the cost of the man's medical expenses. The full benefits covered by the program are often dependent on the type of work being completed, which usually means high risk jobs such as construction work have significantly higher benefit amounts.
However, workers' compensation may not adequately cover all the medical expenses. If this is the case, it may be possible to bring a civil suit to receive more workers' compensation money for long-term injuries. Lawyers the workers' compensation field are likely able to discuss this option with any individual considering taking legal action.
Source: wfmj.com, "Distracted driving linked to Braceville accident injuring road worker," July 29, 2013