The men and women who serve and protect us put their lives on the line everyday to make our world safer. Their work is often dangerous and unpredictable. It is for this reason that they are not always safe from workplace injuries that can lead to a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim. There are some things that as drivers who share the roads with our first responders that we can do to help keep them safe and upright.
Between 2005 and 2019 according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) there were 200 law enforcement officers alone that were struck and killed along highways throughout the United States. If just one officer is killed in a preventable accident it is too many. That is why it is incumbent upon all of us to be vigilant if there is an officer or other first responder helping a vehicle on the side of the road that we follow some very simple steps to keep that person safe from harm.
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Follow Connecticut’s Move Over Law which requires that if there is a first responder in the breakdown lane, where it is safe to do so, you must move into the adjacent lane to keep a safe distance from the incident.
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Slow down. Excessive speed is always a recipe for disaster on our roads, but when approaching a broken down vehicle with an officer or other first responder attending to it, excessive speed can be deadly.
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Use your signal when changing lanes. Not signaling that you are going to change lanes could result in a more severe accident as on-coming traffic may not see you changing lanes and this could result in unintended consequences.
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Make sure that you always use your mirrors and have a clear path to change lanes safely so you do not veer into on-coming traffic.
The safety of our men and women in uniform is paramount to the safety of all of us. If an officer or other first responder cannot feel safe pulling over to the side of the road to assist a motorist who is broken down or injured then our system breaks down. Accidents do happen and they may lead to a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim, but they can also be avoided if we all follow certain rules of the road.
If you are a first responder or know someone who is, firstly, thank you for your service to our community. Secondly, we are here to help if you have been injured on the job and need to file a claim. Our board certified worker’s compensation attorneys can help guide you through the claims process.
