Pickup Truck Driver Faces Homicide Charges After Killing Construction Worker in Georgia
On May 21st, 11 Alive reported that a construction worker had lost his life after an accident on Georgia 400. The driver of a pickup now faces several charges in connection with this fatality, including homicide. The truth is that accidents like this are all too common, and roadside construction workers face serious hazards every day. If you have lost a loved one under similar circumstances, consider speaking with an experienced Georgia construction accident lawyer.
Pickup Truck Driver Strikes Roadside Worker on Georgia-400
Officials say that the pickup driver who struck the roadside worker now faces several charges, including second-degree vehicular homicide, failing to move over, and speeding. Georgia’s Mover Over Law states that drivers should change lanes in order to give construction workers more space when passing. If this isn’t possible, they must reduce their speed. It seems as if this particular pickup truck driver did neither.
Aside from these basic facts, officials did not reveal much else about the accident. Investigators are trying to gather more information, although it’s clear that the victim was actively working in the construction zone when he was struck and killed. This kind of work is deceptively dangerous, especially late at night on busy highways.
Options for Compensation After Families Lose Roadside Workers to Fatal Accidents
The first instinct for many families after losing loved ones to roadside construction accidents is to file a workers’ compensation claim. Death benefits can help pay the bills after a death in the family, and there is nothing wrong with filing this type of claim.
However, a wrongful death lawsuit may represent a more secure form of financial security. If your loved one was killed by a passing motorist, you can sue that motorist directly in addition to filing a death benefits claim.
A wrongful death lawsuit offers many advantages over a workers’ comp claim, and it can provide more compensation. It may also cover 100 percent of lost wages and medical bills, while death benefits may only cover a portion of these damages. Perhaps most notably, you can claim non-economic damages by filing a wrongful death claim. Workers’ comp does not cover these emotional or psychological damages.
That being said, wrongful death claims can be more challenging. Unlike the “no-fault” workers’ comp system, a lawsuit requires you to prove negligence. An experienced construction accident lawyer can help you gather the necessary evidence to accomplish this goal.
Can a Construction Accident Lawyer in Georgia Help Me?
The fact that the person who seems to be responsible for this fatality is facing felony charges may provide some degree of closure to the victim’s family. However, criminal charges cannot put food on the table or cover the electricity bills. For financial security and a true sense of justice, a wrongful death lawsuit is the only real option. Discuss this option in more detail by contacting Georgia construction accident attorneys at Morain & Buckelew, LLC.
Source:
11alive.com/article/news/local/ga-400-southbound-shut-down-as-a-crash-involving-work-trucks-causes-major-delays/85-9b522b31-c048-4bdc-b774-678a78ac9eba