attorney photo

“I have been prosecuting serious injury and wrongful death cases against trucking companies, auto makers and tire manufacturers for more than 30 years. Our firm maintains this blog to share information and insight on transportation safety issues that continue to arise on our nation’s highways and roads.”

Source: The Ammons Law Firm

Melissa McMahon hit, killed by dump truck in North Dakota

GRIGGS COUNTY, N.D.  — Melissa McMahon, a 50-year-old woman from Odessa, Minn., was tragically killed Oct. 15 at a work site in Cooperstown.

The construction worker was hit by a dump truck as the driver backed up to pour asphalt on southeast 15th Street, according to North Dakota Highway Patrol. McMahon was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident at about 5 p.m.

The driver of the 1988 Kenworth dump truck, 63-year-old Robert Halvorson, of Summit, N.D., was not wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.

No additional information on the accident was immediately available.

COMMENTARY ON WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS

I was disturbed to learn of the horrific work accident that took the life of Ms. McMahon decades before her time. Devastating accidents such as this are all too common. In recent years runovers/backovers (primarily by dump trucks) accounted for 48% all road construction worker fatalities. That is nearly half of all road construction fatal accidents—more than twice the road construction worker fatalities caused by travel vehicle collisions U.S. Department of Transportation Work Zone Management Program.

What caused Mr. Halvorson’s failure to stop the dump truck before hitting the victim in this tragic event? Distracted driving? Brake failure? Poor worker visibility? Lack of proper traffic control measures? End of shift rush? Lack of training or experience? We cannot discern the answers to these questions from details in the accident report. A thorough investigation must be conducted to determine the driver’s state of mind, level of experience, physical condition, the safety of the vehicle, and the work site conditions to determine driver culpability or establish company negligence.

I have witnessed firsthand the devastation and heartache caused by accidents like this one as the victim’s loved ones work through their grief at the same time trying to navigate the legal system. It is not an endeavor for the faint of heart. My deepest condolences go out to Ms. McMahon’s loved ones.

Disclaimer: At Ammons Law, we are constantly seeking to improve the quality and safety of our roads and highways. We post these articles to help improve safety within our community. All of the information contained within this post was compiled from public sources or constitutes the opinion of the author. Please inform us immediately if you identify any false or misleading information.

Categories
Our Firm Will Fight for Your Right to Compensation
  • We Wrote the Book on Tire Defect Litigation

    Attorney Rob Ammons has not only handled some of the most complex tire defect cases but also wrote the book on how to properly litigate these types of cases.

  • Team Approach to Handling Each & Every Case

    Unlike smaller law firms, we have the resources necessary to tackle even the most complex cases. To ensure our clients get the best possible results, we hire industry experts and other professionals to advise on any complex legal issues.

  • Over a Billion Dollars Recovered for Our Clients

    Our seasoned legal professionals have handled some of the largest personal injury claims nationwide and have a strong track record of favorable outcomes.

Let Us Help You
Request Your FREE CONSULTATION Today!
Call
(281) 801-5617 or fill out the form below to contact our team.

    Skip to content