Stephen Ebling, 58, a maintenance supervisor for the Thruway Authority was fatally injured when a driver veered over the hazard markings and hit him. According to a Spectrum news report, Ebling was standing in front of his vehicle on the shoulder of the road when a man veered into him. To avoid a collision, Ebling reportedly ran into the passing lane of the I-90 and was struck by the same driver as he corrected back into the left lane. The driver remained at the scene. The incident occurred near exit 58 in the town of Hanover. We offer our deepest condolences to Stephen Ebling’s family for their tragic loss.
Meanwhile, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) posted a video of another worker jumping out of the way before a box truck crashed into equipment. The worker’s hard hat can be seen being blown off his head as he rushes to avoid the crash. That incident occurred on Interstate 81 near Whitney Point. Officials are asking drivers to slow down and move over for construction workers and those in work zones — simple actions that can save lives.
New York’s Move Over Law
The “Move Over Law” in New York was initially created to protect law enforcement officers, emergency responders, and roadside workers by requiring drivers to slow down and, if safe, switch lanes when approaching stationary vehicles displaying flashing lights on the roadside. However, as construction and maintenance work continues to expand across New York’s highways, the law has been extended to protect a wider group, including construction workers.
For construction workers, the Move Over Law is essential to their safety because they frequently operate close to fast-moving traffic on highways and busy streets. Roadside construction zones are particularly hazardous due to the narrow proximity to vehicles and any sudden maneuver or loss of driver attention can be life-threatening. So the law mandates that drivers must reduce their speed and, where possible, vacate the lane closest to construction workers and vehicles. This small adjustment in behavior can significantly reduce accidents and prevent injuries and fatalities among construction workers.
Despite the law’s expansion, many drivers remain unaware of its requirements or do not fully appreciate the risk posed to roadside workers. Law enforcement agencies and road safety organizations in New York actively promote public awareness campaigns, emphasizing the importance of compliance. Violations of the Move Over Law can lead to hefty fines and, in severe cases, license points.
Compensation for Injured Workers
An injured worker in New York City may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. Workers’ compensation provides medical treatment, a little wage replacement, and other benefits to employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses. In addition, workers may also be able to file a third-party claim against a negligent (careless) party other than the employer or co-employees for significant monetary damages and have two sources of compensation available for their losses. Examples of third parties include, but are not limited to, general contractors, construction companies, sub-contractors, building owners, managing agents etc. In cases where a worker dies from injuries suffered on the job, surviving family members may seek death benefits through workers’ compensation and/or file a wrongful death claim against a third party who may be held liable for the fatal incident.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a struck-by accident or any type of construction accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses.
Our law firm recovered $3,375,576 for a construction worker (an undocumented immigrant) who was injured on the job — one of the highest construction case settlements in New York that year. Our law firm also recovered $3,000,000 for a man who fell and suffered two broken legs when he walked into an open elevator shaft. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/buffalo/public-safety/2024/11/04/nysp–thruway-authority-maintenance-worker-hit-and-killed-on-i-90