CONSTRUCTION ROAD WORKER HIT BY CAR – MN INJURY LAWYERS
We recently learned in an internet news post that an East Bethel woman won’t face felony charges, even though she admitted to looking down at her phone before she hit a construction worker in a work zone last year. This was announced by the Anoka County Attorney. At the time of the car accident, the worker was holding a “stop/slow” sign at the construction site near 7th Street and 237th Avenue NE in East Bethel. The 20 year old driver nearly killed the road worker.
Our Minnesota car accident lawyers have handled hundreds of cases where a driver is briefly not paying attention and causes a serious crash. Of course, a road worker hit by a car can be seriously injured.
According to the reconstruction report, the driver of the car told investigators at the time of the road construction crash she looked down at a notification on her phone. By the time she looked up, traffic stopped in front of her. Then, to avoid hitting the cars, she swerved onto the shoulder and crashed into the highway construction zone worker. The road worker was a mother of six. Because of this accident, she was in a coma for two months.
The road construction worker is always vulnerable to being hit by a vehicle or other car accident. Drivers have to drive slowly and pay attention when in a construction zone. Our attorneys have seen many road worker injury accidents like this in Minnesota.
NO CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR BAD DRIVING IN WORK ZONE
After a month of decision-making, the Anoka County Attorney decided not to press charges against the driver who hit the road worker. “We do not feel we could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she was driving in a grossly negligent manner,” said the county lawyer. Because the driver didn’t lose control of her car, wasn’t speeding, or under the influence – she won’t be charged with a felony. However, in this situation, in addition to workers compensation, the road worker can sue the driver that hit her and receive compensation for her injuries. This is something our lawyers do for construction road workers.
Nearly a year later, the former construction worker is still angry. She still suffers from several head, limb and internal injuries from a preventable crash while working on a road construction project. She has yet another serious surgery later this month. By speaking out, she wants to protect other highway construction workers from being hit by a car on the road. “In other states there’s signs saying if you hit a road worker, this is how much you’re going to get charged, and this is how many years you’re going to get,” said Berg. “So, something has to change here.” The penalties for hitting a road worker in a construction zone should be much more serious.
The East Bethel city attorney could still decide to charge Paulus with reckless driving.
According to the Department of Public Safety between 2007 and 2016, there were 94 deaths and 229 serious injuries at construction zones. Those numbers include drivers, passengers and workers.
ROAD WORKER INJURY COMPENSATION LAWYERS
If you or a loved one are a road construction worker injured by an inattentive driver, call us and speak with a lawyer for a free consultation. Our MN car accident injury attorneys have more than 25 years’ experience. We represent workers injured in a highway construction zone or other accidents. We are tough and we get results.
When you call our office, a car accident lawyer will answer your questions and make sure your rights are protected. We have offices for you to meet a lawyer in Edina, Minneapolis, Woodbury, and St. Louis Park. Our car accident lawyers also meet injury clients at the hospital or their homes in St. Paul, Roseville, Forest Lake, Lino Lakes, and Brooklyn Center. Also, Golden Valley, Plymouth, Maple Grove, and other cities throughout Minnesota.