A semi-truck ran into a highway maintenance worker on Sept. 3, sending the individual to the hospital. Pennsylvania State Police report that the 11 a.m. crash happened around mile marker 327 on the turnpike near the King of Prussia interchange.
The maintenance worker was standing on the side of the eastbound lanes of the highway when the semi-truck struck. The right and center lanes were blocked, causing traffic delays with only the left lane open. While emergency responders and police were on the scene to investigate, heavy wreckers were en route to tow the semi-truck away. Authorities say that the victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
When vehicles hit Pennsylvania highway maintenance workers while they are on the job, the employees could be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Under the Workers’ Compensation Act, workers who suffer injury in workplace accidents may have their medical costs covered. This might include doctor bills, medications and surgical procedures.
Employees who suffer partial or total disabilities could be eligible for additional benefits. Partial disability benefits are paid to qualifying workers for up to 500 weeks, but if a physician determines that they are 50 percent or more impaired, they could file for total disability benefits. After 104 weeks of workers being on total disability benefits, a physician determines whether they are 50 percent or more impaired. If the worker does not meet this threshold, the benefit status is reduced to partial disability. Specific loss benefits may also be available to employees who lose the use of part or all of an appendage.
In addition to these benefits, injured workers could receive wage-loss benefits if they become partially or totally disabled and unable to work. These payments may be about two-thirds of their average weekly wage.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, “About Workers’ Compensation”
Source: CBS Philly, “Police: Maintenance Worker Struck By Tractor-Trailer On Pa. Turnpike“, September 03, 2014