New Jersey residents know that construction sites can be dangerous places, and many worksite accidents are preventable if employers and workers take the proper precautions. But sometimes the very location of a worksite can place workers in more danger than members of the general public. For example, when construction workers are working near or on a roadway, the constant flow of traffic presents a continuous risk of personal injury for the workers who have to remain there, doing their jobs.
One such situation occurred recently on the New Jersey Turnpike, where two workers were injured after a car crashed into a construction truck. The accident happened in Carteret, and sadly, two of the people in the car died of their injuries, while two others suffered non-fatal injuries.
One of the injured workers was in the construction truck when the accident happened. The other injured worker was standing near the truck and was hit by it after the initial collision. Both of the workers were transported to Trinitas Hospital for treatment.
According to witnesses, the car veered onto the left shoulder of the roadway and collided with the truck, which was being used to protect other workers on the construction site.
The injured workers in this case will likely be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, since all employers in New Jersey are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. But sometimes the basic services provided by workers’ compensation — paid wages and medical treatment — aren’t equal to what an injured worker really deserves. That is why injured workers in New Jersey may benefit from exploring all of their options for both workers’ compensation and personal injury compensation. If a person besides an employer or a co-worker was responsible for a workplace injury, then the injured worker may also have grounds to file a personal injury claim for damages.
Source: lohud.com, “2 from Pleasantville die in N.J. Turnpike crash,” Randi Weiner, Feb. 6, 2012