Long Grove, IL (September 18th, 2024) – An Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) employee suffered non-life-threatening injuries when he was struck by a motor vehicle while directing traffic in a road construction zone along Route 22 in Long Grove. The accident occurred shortly before 8:20 a.m. on Wednesday.
According to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Long Grove Fire Protection District were dispatched to the Route 22 and North Krueger Road area in Long Grove after receiving a report of a car vs pedestrian accident involving an IDOT worker. They arrived at the scene to find the 52-year-old flagger from Beach Park had been struck by a Honda Accord driven by a 57-year-old man from Deerfield.
The preliminary investigation indicates that the Honda was traveling westbound on Route 22 when the accident occurred. As part of a shoulder grading project that had been in progress throughout the past week, a lane of traffic on Route 22 was closed, and eastbound and westbound traffic were required to alternate. Message boards were in place to warn drivers of the lane closures.
The IDOT flagger had placed his stop sign to face westbound traffic, directing westbound traffic to stop so that eastbound traffic could proceed. The westbound Honda driver ignored the stop sign, and proceeded to move forward.
To prevent the Honda driver from causing a collision with eastbound vehicles, the flagger stepped into traffic. The driver of the Honda still did not stop, and struck the road worker.
The injured flagger was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment. He has since been released. The Honda driver was not injured in the accident. He was cited for disobeying a traffic control device and disobeying a flagger.
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Implications for Personal Injury Law
From a legal perspective, this case touches on several critical areas of personal injury law:
- Workplace Safety: The incident raises questions about the adequacy of safety measures for road workers and whether additional protections are necessary.
- Driver Negligence: The failure to obey traffic signals and flaggers is considered negligent behavior, leading to civil liability.
- Workers’ Compensation: The injured IDOT employee may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits to cover medical expenses and lost wages.
- Civil Litigation: Depending on the extent of the flagger’s injuries and circumstances, there might be grounds for a personal injury lawsuit against the driver.
- Traffic Law Enforcement: This case underscores the need for strict enforcement of traffic laws in construction zones to prevent similar incidents.
Legal Recourse for Injured Road Construction Workers
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a similar incident, it’s crucial to understand your rights and legal options. Personal injury and workers’ compensation attorneys who have experience in workplace accidents and traffic incidents can provide valuable guidance on navigating the workers’ compensation system, exploring third-party personal injury claims, ensuring all medical expenses and lost wages are properly compensated, and advocating for improved safety measures to prevent future incidents.
As personal injury lawyers at Bogdan Martinovich Attorney at Law in Libertyville, IL, we are committed to protecting the rights of injured workers and promoting safer roadways for all. If you’ve been involved in a similar incident, don’t hesitate to contact us to understand your rights and options for compensation. Initial consultations are free, and we don’t charge attorney fees unless we win your case.
