Law enforcement officers face many dangers while on-the-job. Some of those dangers come from working alongside busy roads. Laws and regulations are put in place to help these people stay safe while working. Despite these laws, however, negligent, drunk and otherwise reckless drivers pose a serious threat to road construction workers, law officers and all other people who must fight traffic in order to get the job done.
One Maryland officer who was directing traffic through a construction zone was injured on the job when a driver failed to adhere to the safety laws. Although the officer was sitting in an unmarked vehicle, the car’s emergency lights were on and the construction zone was well-lit.
By law, when motorists see an officer, construction worker, tow service operator or any type of emergency vehicle on the side of the road, they are supposed to either slow down as they pass or move over to another lane.
The 28-year-old male who hit the officer’s vehicle was traveling at highway speeds when he entered the construction area. He is being charged with driving through a safety zone, failure to obey a traffic control device, drug possession, driving on a suspended out-of-state license, negligent driving, displaying a suspended license and failure to control vehicle speed. While the young male was not injured in the collision, the officer was flown to the hospital for treatment and was later released.
Law enforcement officers and other workers are more susceptible to injuries due to their work environment. It is important to understand your options and rights when it comes to obtaining workers’ compensation benefits. An attorney who understands how the workers’ compensation process works may be able to assist you in your pursuit for benefits.