A New Jersey Department of Transportation employee suffered critical injuries in late July after a vehicle struck him as he was attempting to remove litter from the road. The man, age 28, apparently suffered critical injuries because of a negligent driver who was attempting to pass a semi-truck on the right. The at-fault driver has been issued multiple summonses for charges including improper passing, reckless driving and failure to wear a seat belt, according to official reports.
Authorities say that the 27-year-old driver was initially in the center lane, but he moved to the right-hand lane to pass the tractor-trailer rig. When the driver changed lanes, he noticed several DOT vehicles parked in his way, and he attempted to swerve to avoid hitting them. However, his vehicle struck a concrete barrier and was pushed back into the right lane. The car bounced between vehicles and the concrete barrier several times before smashing into the victim. The DOT worker was reportedly pinned beneath the vehicle until emergency responders arrived to help. Incredibly, the victim received aid from a passing tow truck driver, who used a hydraulic lift to push the vehicle off of the man’s head, which had been pinned to the ground by the at-fault driver’s car.
The driver who caused the accident also suffered injuries in the crash, but he was released from the hospital shortly after arriving. The victim remained in critical but stable condition in the days following the collision. It is not yet clear whether the victim has suffered permanent disability that will require long-term medical care.
No matter the nature of the injuries, victims deserve financial compensation from the negligent drivers who cause them harm. Injuries as severe as a spinal cord injury — or as minor as a sprain or strain — can have a major impact on a victim’s life. Recovering damages in the aftermath of an accident can help cover medical expenses, lost wages and other costs for the injured victim.
Source: NJ.com, “DOT worker critically injured by car that tried to pass tractor-trailer, State Police say,” Justin Zaremba, NJ Advance Media, July 30, 2015