Roadside Construction Accidents: Does Ohio Have More Over Laws?

Recently, a video released by the mother of an Ohio roadside worker who was killed in an auto accident made news, as she is looking to raise awareness for “Move Over” laws.

According to EquipmentWorld.com, Joan Kiper’s son Mark had been working as a seasonal employee for the Ohio Department of Transportation for two weeks in 1997 when a vehicle struck and killed him in Wayne County. He was his high school’s valedictorian, a collegiate athlete and dean’s list student prior to the crash.

In the video, Joan pleads for drivers to move over when they see vehicles with flashing lights, such as highway crew trucks on the side of the road. According to ODOT, there were 5,100 crashes resulting in more than 1,000 injuries and 17 deaths in 2014.

Because of the dangers posed to workers by reckless motorists, in 2004, Ohio implemented a Move Over Law, which calls for drivers to move over one lane passing by any vehicle with flashing or rotating lights parked on the roadside, if possible. Drivers who fail to adhere to the law can face fines.

“After this long, would (the law) have saved his life? That’s something we’ll never know,” Joan says, in the video. “But if it saves one other person’s life, one other family, friends won’t have to go through this kind of circumstance.”

Can Family Members Collect Workers’ Compensation Benefits Following Fatal Vehicle Accidents?

If your loved is killed on-the-job, you should be aware that you might be able to collect certain workers’ compensation death benefits. This is important because while no amount of money will bring your loved one back, it may help you recover financially by making up for his or her lost income.

Additionally, if your loved is killed in a workplace accident due to negligence on behalf of another person, you may be able to file a third party lawsuit. This type of litigation is common when reckless drivers kill people who work in transportation or construction.

To read more about Ohio’s Move Over Law you can visit the ODOT website. Additionally, we will share the video from Joan Kiper on our firm’s Facebook page. Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!

Source: http://www.equipmentworld.com/odot-releases-new-video-to-raise-awareness-of-move-over-law-featuring-mother-of-road-worker-killed/