Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle at Work — Injury Statistics and Claims Information
Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle at Work
Work zone pedestrian injuries are rising
OSHA has recorded 298 severe incidents where workers on foot were struck by vehicles in road work zones. These events most commonly result in fractures, which account for 55.9 percent of all reported cases.
The severity of these incidents is reflected in the high frequency of injuries to multiple body parts and the brain. Workers often face long-term recovery from traumatic injuries that stem from being pinned or struck by heavy machinery and trucks.
What's Driving the Trend?
Over the last decade, incidents involving pedestrians struck by vehicles have increased by 18.2 percent. Motorized roadway vehicles, including passenger cars and trucks, remain the primary source of these collisions, often due to failures in traffic control or driver awareness.
Construction remains the highest-risk industry, accounting for 69.5 percent of all reported cases. The dynamic nature of road work zones, where workers operate in close proximity to moving traffic, creates a persistent environment for these preventable accidents.
Injury Types from Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle
Top causes based on OSHA incident reports
Struck-by incidents in work zones typically occur when workers are performing flagging duties, removing traffic control devices, or assisting with vehicle backing operations. Motorized roadway vehicles, specifically passenger cars and trucks, are involved in nearly 90 percent of these events. Whether it is a vehicle veering onto the shoulder or a truck failing to see a worker during a backing maneuver, these incidents often happen when safety buffers are compromised or traffic control plans are not strictly enforced.
| Injury Type | Incidents | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fractures | 156 |
| 2 | Severe wounds or internal injuries and other injuries | 30 |
| 3 | Traumatic injuries or exposures— unspecified | 29 |
| 4 | Intracranial Injuries | 21 |
| 5 | Amputations, avulsions, enucleations | 12 |
| 6 | Injuries to internal organs and major blood vessels | 8 |
| 7 | Cuts, lacerations, punctures without injury to internal structures | 7 |
| 8 | Injuries to the brain, spinal cord and other injuries | 4 |
Why This Matters for Your Case
Employers are legally required to maintain safe work zones under 29 CFR 1926.601, which mandates that all vehicles have a functioning reverse signal alarm or a spotter present. Furthermore, 29 CFR 1926.602 requires that heavy machinery be operated in a manner that protects workers on foot. Failure to implement these controls or provide adequate high-visibility personal protective equipment often constitutes a violation of federal safety standards.
Industries with Most Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle
Where these injuries occur most frequently
Construction accounts for 69.5 percent of all pedestrian-vehicle incidents, followed by administrative services at 15.8 percent. These industries involve frequent work on or near public roadways, where the combination of high-speed traffic and worker proximity creates a high risk for collision.
High-Risk Industries and Your Rights
In the Construction industry, employers must adhere to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices as incorporated by OSHA standards. This includes the mandatory use of temporary traffic control zones, physical barriers to separate workers from traffic, and rigorous training for all employees acting as flaggers to ensure they are positioned safely away from the path of oncoming vehicles.
Real Incident Reports
From actual OSHA investigation files
Reported incidents consistently reveal that workers are most vulnerable when performing tasks on the shoulder or assisting with vehicle movements. Patterns include collisions during backing operations, vehicles veering out of travel lanes, and secondary impacts where a vehicle strikes a work truck, which then hits the worker. These accounts highlight the critical need for strict adherence to traffic control plans and the use of protective barriers.
"On July 10, 2025, two crews were removing stripes and then re-striping pavement in a lane that was fully closed. The injured employee was assisting a subcontracted blasting truck with backing up approximately 1,000 feet to continue stripe removal operations. After giving directions, the employee went to mark additional spots when the truck knocked him to the ground and rolled over his lower half, resulting in fractures to both legs, his hip, and his right ankle."
"An employee was performing flagging duties for a work zone while standing on the shoulder of a two-lane road. The mirror of a passing pickup truck struck the employee, resulting in injuries to their head, neck, left shoulder, and left arm."
"An employee was picking up a traffic closure when an 18-wheeler rear-ended the truck-mounted attenuator (TMA). The impact spun the TMA sideways and forward; it struck the employee before impacting the barrier wall. The employee sustained a concussion to the right side of the forehead and a fractured left femur."
"At about 5:15 p.m. on June 14, 2025, an employee was using a walk-behind mower to mow middle islands along a road. A support truck with an arrow board sign was following behind to control traffic. The truck lurched forward and struck the employee from behind, pinning the employee against the mower. The employee suffered a fractured hip, a right iliac wing fracture, right femoral nerve damage, and puncture wounds to the right leg. The employee was hospitalized."
"An employee was flagging traffic on a public road near a tree trimming operation. A car stopped next to him as he stood on the shoulder. A second car, approaching at high speed and about to strike the first car, veered onto the shoulder and struck the employee instead. He suffered a broken tooth, a laceration on his tongue, a laceration and bruise on his head, several broken bones, and a hematoma on his left thigh. He was hospitalized."
"An employee was blowing grass clippings while performing landscaping activities near the shoulder of the road. A vehicle mounted the curb and struck the employee. The road was wet at the time. The employee sustained injuries to their head and lower body."
"An employee was raking gravel in a road lane. A pilot car struck the employee, who suffered fractures to their ribs, tailbone, and right hip."
"An employee was placing traffic cones for a lane closure when a vehicle entered the closure zone and struck them. The employee suffered a broken right tibia and knee."
"An employee was walking down the road when a tack truck backed over him. The employee sustained fractures to his right ankle and a crushed pelvis."
"An employee was installing material on a utility pole before setting the pole into the ground. A vehicle entered the work area and struck the pole. The utility pole struck the employee in the leg and they were hospitalized with a fractured leg."
Common Questions About Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle Claims
The ClaimsBoost Research Team aggregates official government data to help workers understand workplace injury trends and their coverage options.
ClaimsBoost is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. ClaimsBoost is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any government agency. Performance scores, rankings, and statistics displayed on this site are calculated by ClaimsBoost using publicly available government data from OSHA severe injury reports. Individual results may vary. Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice or a guarantee of benefits. If you need legal help, we can connect you with licensed attorneys in your area.Some written content on this page was created with the assistance of AI to help interpret and explain the data. AI can make mistakes — all content has been reviewed for accuracy, but we encourage you to verify any information that is important to your situation.