Construction Worker Killed in Oakland Crash
A 33-year-old construction worker from Oakland was killed in a work-related car accident that officials suspect involved a drunk driver. According to a news report in the Rockridge Patch, the fatal car accident happened on westbound Highway 580 at Lakeshore Avenue in Oakland. Officials say the man was working within the two lanes that were closed off with cones for paving operations when a car crossed into the construction zone and struck him. The construction worker was pronounced dead at the scene. A multidisciplinary accident investigation team arrived at the crash site to collect evidence against the suspected drunk driver.
All construction jobs are filled with dangers, but highway construction work is particularly dangerous. In addition to the many hazards that come with construction work, highway workers also have to contend with careless drivers. Work zone injuries and fatalities are tragically common.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), there were 87,606 crashes in work zones in the year 2010. Of those accidents, 69 percent were crashes that involved only property damage, but 30 percent resulted in injuries and 0.6 percent resulted in death. In fact, there was one work zone injury every 14 minutes and about one work zone fatality every 15 hours, nationwide.
Drivers approaching work zones must slow down and use caution. However, many drunk, speeding, fatigued and otherwise careless drivers fail to adjust their speed and put workers at risk of suffering a serious or fatal injury. When a worker is killed, their family can pursue financial compensation for their tragic losses
There are workers’ compensation death benefits available for the families of construction employees who have been killed on the job. These benefits, however, rarely are adequate to compensate a family for their loss. Depending on the cause of the accident, it may be possible to pursue additional support through a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party. Negligent drivers can be held accountable for lost future wages, burial fees, loss of consortium, pain and suffering and other related damages.
If you have lost a loved one in a fatal work zone accident, it is important that you explore all of your options. An experienced Oakland construction accident attorney can review your case and help you pursue fair compensation for your tragic loss. Contact Balamuth Law today at (888) 254-1234.
Sources: http://patch.com/california/rockridge/suspected-dui-driver-kills-construction-worker-crash-i-580-0
http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/wz/resources/facts_stats/injuries_fatalities.htm
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