Highway, Roadway And Bridge Workers

Workers’ Compensation Death Benefit Claims Attorneys

Commercial construction has one of the highest on-the-job injury and death rates of any industry. Nationwide, about 900 construction workers die on the job site every year; but as dangerous as construction jobs are, highway, roadway, and bridge workers face even greater odds of being injured or killed due to the proximity of road traffic.

New Jersey Workers Compensation Lawyer Dan Santarsiero at JFM Law is dedicated to helping families recover financially following the unexpected workplace death of a loved one. Especially in situations where the victim was the primary provider for his or her family, it is critical to apply for survivor benefits as soon as possible in order to avoid serious financial problems later on.

We understand that grieving family members have a much more difficult time as they deal with both the loss of a spouse or parent, not to mention the realities of their loved one’s lost income. In some cases, where an extended hospital stay preceded the individual’s death, doctor expenses and other charges for medical care can quickly mount, causing even more stress for the family.

Workers’ Compensation Survival Claims For Highway, Roadway And Bridge Workers

A large percentage of work-related fatalities arise from some kind of accident. For tradespeople working in highway construction zones, not only do the normal construction-related hazards exist for those workers, but depending on the proximity to active traffic lanes, the threat of being hit by a passenger car or semi tractor-trailer rig can be just as deadly.

In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 1,500 workers died at road construction worksites from 2003 to 2014. The average number of fatal on-the-job accidents affecting highway construction workers nationwide is approximately 120 per year. Here in New Jersey, various parkway, turnpike, and surface street repair activities put numerous highway workers at risk on a daily basis for most of the year.

Our New Jersey workers’ compensation lawyers, including Daniel Santarsiero, Esq., have decades’ worth of experience assisting surviving spouses and dependent children of industrial accident victims. Whether your loved one was killed in a factory floor mishap or on the Garden State Parkway, our skilled legal staff has the know-how to help you through this most difficult time.

If you have lost a loved one to a fatal on-the-job accident, we suggest you contact a qualified workers’ comp death benefit expert who can help you navigate the claims process. Call Mr. Santarsiero today at 866-916-3549 to set up your free, no-obligation initial consultation. He will be able to analyze your case, provide guidance for filing a death benefit claim, as well as recommend possible legal solutions depending on the circumstances surrounding your loved one’s death.

For highway-related worksite accidents, workers’ compensation provides the same financial recovery as any other fatal on-the-job accident. Whether in Monmouth, Union, Middlesex or any of the nearly two dozen counties in New Jersey, workers’ comp is a “no-fault” type of insurance, which means that no matter who caused an accident the victim’s family should qualify for death benefits. However, according to law, where workers’ compensation insurance is involved, the survivors are barred from suing the victim’s employer, though third-party lawsuits are permitted when circumstances indicate negligence.

When it comes to highway construction workers, the danger of injury or death is ever-present. Single-vehicle collisions, multi-car accidents, and tractor-trailer crashes in or near a roadway construction zone can easily endanger the lives of men and women working mere feet away, and often on the other side of a narrow barrier. Just as with pedestrian-involved auto accidents that occur every day across New Jersey, construction workers on foot have little or no protection when a motor vehicle crashes into a work zone.

Regardless of the warning signs near roadway construction zones or increased monetary penalties for traffic offenses committed within these areas, many passenger car drivers and even some professional truck drivers fail to observe or blatantly disregard speed restrictions when roadway crews are present. Therefore, the threat of bodily harm exists for road crews repairing highway pavement, turnpike overpasses, and freeway infrastructure day and night throughout the Garden State.

Sadly, even the most conscientious highway workers can be caught off guard when working in a construction zone. In addition to those risks posed by speeding expressway traffic, heavy machinery and other occupational hazards can cause fatal injury. Being run over by a piece of heavy construction machinery or having an arm or leg caught in the mechanism of some large piece of equipment can result in serious or fatal injuries.

Furthermore, fatal accidents are known to have occurred when large and heavy loads break free as they are being lifted overhead by a crane. Deaths from fallen objects are a persistent threat to the lives of bridge workers and other roadway construction personnel. The following are just some of the possible highway work zone and bridge construction accidents that can lead to fatal injuries:

• Falls from bridges or parkway overpasses
• Struck by a loose wheel or tire from a passing motor vehicle
• Hit by a car or truck while patching potholes on the turnpike
• Run over by a road grader, bulldozer or dump truck
• Crush accidents due to fallen steel beams or other material dropped from an overhead crane

Fatal Turnpike Construction Accidents

Our workers’ comp death benefit claims experts have the training and litigation skills to assist victims’ families recover the death benefits they deserve. In situations where a member of a roadway repair crew has been killed by a passing vehicle, our staff can assess the case from a legal standpoint and determine if a third-party lawsuit is in order.

If you have lost a loved one to a fatal on-the-job accident, it is critical to understand your right to death benefits under the New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Act. When someone is killed while performing his or her job, death benefits are automatically triggered as long as the death occurred while at work. This includes deaths resulting from long-term exposure to various toxic or cancer-causing substances in the workplace.

Our legal team is willing and able to assist surviving spouses, dependent children and other relative who may be entitled to survival benefits. Monetary recovery not only relates to funeral/burial costs and medical expenses (for treatment prior to the victim’s death) but also to the recovery of lost income. This last part is very important for individuals whose wages made up the bulk of their family’s income.

Whether the accident occurred in Passaic, Union, Middlesex, Monmouth, or any of the 21 counties across the Garden State, our experienced workers’ comp lawyers can guide families through the claims process; they can also be instrumental when a third-party wrongful death claim is indicated. Please contact Mr. Santarsiero at 866-916-3549 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

After your initial meeting, if you would like to retain our firm, we will represent you and your family on a contingent fee basis. In other words, no legal fees will be charged to you unless we make a recovery on your behalf. As workers’ compensation death benefit claims experts, we have the ability to help you get the compensation you deserve under the laws of the State of New Jersey.

Frequently Asked Questions About Construction Injury Claims