Las Vegas, NV (September 2nd, 2026) – A landscaping worker suffered life-threatening injuries after a van reportedly drifted toward a parked landscaping trailer and struck him while he was removing equipment Tuesday morning. The crash highlights a traffic danger Las Vegas workers may face even when their work vehicle is parked.
Nevada drivers have a duty to exercise due care to avoid collisions with pedestrians, including people on or near a street or road. When a worker is struck while performing job duties, however, the resulting case may involve more than a typical pedestrian accident claim. Workers’ compensation benefits and a potential claim against a negligent third-party driver may both need to be considered.
If you were struck by a vehicle while working in Las Vegas, contact George Bochanis Injury Law Offices at (702) 388-2005 to discuss your case.
Key Takeaways
- A Las Vegas landscaping worker suffered life-threatening injuries after a van reportedly struck a parked work trailer and then hit the worker.
- Nevada drivers must exercise due care to avoid collisions with pedestrians on or near the roadway.
- An employee hit by an unrelated motorist while working may have both a workers’ compensation claim and a potential third-party personal injury claim.
- Evidence showing why a vehicle left its lane can become important when determining fault.
- Workers injured on the job should not assume that a workers’ compensation claim addresses every legal issue created by a traffic collision.
What Happened in the Las Vegas Landscaping Worker Crash?
According to FOX5 Las Vegas, the collision happened at approximately 7:37 a.m. on East Mountridge Drive near North Hollywood Boulevard.
Police said a Ford F-150 with an attached landscaping trailer was parked along the north curb of westbound East Mountridge Drive. One worker was reportedly removing landscaping equipment from the left side of the trailer while another was retrieving equipment from inside it.
A Ford Transit van traveling westbound allegedly drifted to the right and struck the left rear of the landscaping trailer. Police said the van then struck the worker outside the trailer and projected him onto the roadway. He was transported to UMC Trauma with life-threatening injuries.
The second worker reportedly suffered minor injuries when the van struck the trailer.
Nevada Drivers Must Watch for Workers Along the Road
When people think about a pedestrian accident, they may picture someone walking through a crosswalk or crossing an intersection. Pedestrian crashes can happen under very different circumstances.
Landscapers, utility crews, delivery workers, construction workers, tow truck operators, and other employees may spend part of their workday next to active traffic. They may need to enter the roadway or stand alongside a parked vehicle to retrieve equipment, unload materials, or perform other job duties.
The fact that someone is working rather than simply walking down the street does not eliminate a motorist’s obligation to watch for pedestrians. Under state law, Nevada drivers must exercise due care to avoid collisions with pedestrians and exercise proper caution when observing a pedestrian on or near a highway, street, or road.
That obligation can become particularly important when a vehicle, trailer, work crew, or other visible condition alerts an approaching motorist that people may be nearby.
Who Is Liable When a Driver Hits a Worker Beside a Parked Vehicle?
Liability will depend on why the collision happened and the actions of everyone involved. A worker does not automatically lose the ability to pursue compensation simply because the job required him or her to stand beside a parked vehicle near traffic.
For employees who work out of trucks and trailers, parking does not necessarily remove them from traffic danger. Loading and unloading may require a worker to stand on the traffic-facing side of a vehicle. Tools, equipment, trailers, and the work vehicle itself can also affect visibility.
An approaching driver who leaves the travel lane can turn that routine work activity into a serious collision within seconds.
Why the Vehicle Left Its Lane Can Matter
The FOX5 report states that the van drifted to the right before striking the rear of the landscaping trailer and the worker. Police have not reported why the vehicle drifted, and it would be premature to speculate.
In an injury case, however, determining why a vehicle left its lane can become an important part of the investigation. Evidence may include the police report, witness statements, photographs, surveillance or dash-camera footage, vehicle damage, roadway evidence, and potentially information from the vehicles themselves.
Our Las Vegas car accident lawyers investigate crashes to determine what happened and identify the parties and insurance coverage that may be responsible for an injured victim’s losses.
Can You Get Workers’ Compensation if You Are Hit by a Car While Working?
An employee injured while performing job duties may qualify for Nevada workers’ compensation benefits even when another motorist caused the accident.
That distinction matters. A landscaping employee does not have to be injured by a lawn mower, tool, or other piece of work equipment for an injury to qualify as work-related. A traffic collision can also result in a workplace injury when it occurs in the course of employment.
Workers’ Compensation Does Not Require Proof That Your Employer Caused the Crash
Workers’ compensation generally focuses on whether an employee suffered an injury arising out of and in the course of employment rather than requiring the employee to establish that the employer caused the accident.
Depending on the circumstances, workers’ compensation may provide benefits related to medical treatment, lost income, and qualifying temporary or permanent disabilities.
Our Las Vegas workers’ compensation lawyers help employees determine what benefits may apply after an on-the-job injury and address disputes when insurers delay, reduce, or deny benefits.
Can You File a Workers’ Comp and Personal Injury Claim After the Same Accident?
Potentially. When a person is injured while working because of the actions of someone outside the employer, both types of claims may need to be investigated.
Consider a landscaper who is struck by an unrelated driver while unloading equipment. The employee’s work activity may support a workers’ compensation claim, while the conduct of the driver may create a separate basis for pursuing compensation.
Workers’ compensation and a third-party injury claim serve different purposes. Workers’ compensation may provide benefits because the injury occurred in the course of employment. A third-party claim focuses on whether someone other than the employer was legally responsible for causing the injury.
A Third-Party Claim May Provide Different Compensation
The compensation potentially available through a personal injury claim is not necessarily the same as the benefits provided through workers’ compensation.
A third-party claim may involve losses resulting from another person’s negligence, while workers’ compensation provides benefits under a separate employment-based system. The interaction between the two can also create legal and insurance issues that depend on the facts of the case.
A Las Vegas personal injury attorney can investigate the traffic collision while also examining how the injuries have affected the victim financially and physically.
For someone hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, those questions may involve extensive medical treatment, time away from work, rehabilitation, lasting physical limitations, and uncertainty about returning to the same type of job.
Injured While Working Near Las Vegas Traffic? Call George Bochanis Injury Law Offices
The landscaping crash near East Mountridge Drive is a reminder that workers do not have to be driving to face the dangers of Las Vegas traffic. Simply retrieving equipment from a parked trailer can put an employee only feet away from moving vehicles.
When a motorist strikes someone who is working, determining the injured employee’s rights may require looking at both the traffic collision and the workplace injury.
If you or someone you love was struck by a vehicle while working, contact George Bochanis Injury Law Offices in Las Vegas at (702) 388-2005. We can investigate what happened, identify the claims and insurance coverage that may apply, and help you determine your next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a claim if I was standing in the street when a driver hit me?
Possibly. Standing in or near a roadway does not automatically prevent an injured worker from pursuing compensation. Where you were positioned, why you were there, what the driver could see, and the actions of everyone involved can affect the analysis.
What if the driver who hit me was also working?
The driver’s employment status could affect the case. If the driver was performing job duties at the time of the crash, an investigation may need to determine whether the employer and its insurance coverage are also relevant.
Should I talk to the other driver’s insurance company after a work accident?
Use caution before providing a recorded statement or accepting a settlement when you do not yet know the extent of your injuries or the claims that may be available. An insurer may ask questions about the accident, your medical condition, or your work activities that could affect the claim.
