Thousands of Minnesotans rely on the highway to get to work every day. In order for the roads to be clear and safe, during summer or winter, there are several public employees who work to make this possible. Unfortunately, highway maintenance can be a dangerous job.
A Minnesota Department of Transportation worker was injured on a recent night as he was working on Interstate 94. As the 61-year-old state employee was cleaning up debris left on the highway, a motorist passing by struck him. As a result of the crash, the worker suffered serious injuries and was brought to the hospital to be treated. Thankfully, reports indicate that the injuries aren’t considered life threatening.
Police arrested the 24-year-old man who was driving the vehicle involved in the accident. He was brought to the police station and was cited for driving without a valid license, driving with an open container of alcohol and a couple of other charges. In other words, the driver should not have been on the road the night of the accident.
When someone suffers a work-related injury, they are likely entitled to some form of workers’ compensation benefit. Generally, when an injury is the result of a normal job function, workers are likely to be covered for a portion of lost wages and retraining expenses for their eventual return to work.
Although public employees may not be insured by the same workers’ compensation policies as those in the private sector, they might still be covered by a similar program. Taking time to explore available legal options in light of a workplace accident can prove to be beneficial for an individual’s long-term recovery and stability.
Source: KMSP-TV News, “MnDOT worker hit by car while clearing debris off I-94 in Minneapolis,” Mike Durkin, Nov. 4, 2013