Road construction and maintenance crews are supposed to provide proper warnings and protections for motorists and pedestrians. Failure to take the necessary safety precautions can lead to serious injuries, either for workers or other innocent parties.
On May 8 a 53-year-old bicyclist lost his life after colliding with a large piece of construction equipment in west Savannah. A work crew was using an excavator and a dump truck to clean a maintenance ditch when the man apparently collided with the rear of the excavator.
The machine was parked at the time, but authorities believe the arm of the excavator was moving when the fatal accident happened. The bicyclist and the construction equipment were in the same lane of traffic, according to police.
When officers arrived on the scene, they found the bicyclist unconscious. He was taken to a nearby medical center after receiving emergency treatment at the scene, but sadly the man died at the hospital.
Authorities were still investigating the accident at the time of a report.
Even in a case where a truck or other vehicle was not mobile on the road at the time of a collision, the operator, driver or owner could be held liable for injuries suffered in the accident. In this case, possible sources of negligence might include where the excavator was located, whether signage was adequate for the dangerous area, and whether operators were keeping proper watch on the area.
If you have lost a loved one because of someone else’s negligence, then you have a right to hold the responsible party accountable.
Source: Savannah Now, “Public safety summary: Savannah bicyclist killed in collision with truck,” May 8, 2014