Losing a loved one can be one of the most emotionally difficult times in a person’s life. Unfortunately, the financial future of a family can also be put at risk when a provider loses their life in a workplace accident. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), approximately 5,250 American workers died on the job throughout 2018. In other words, an average of 100 workers dies per week, throughout the United States. If your loved one has been fatally injured while working, it is time to seek out legal guidance.
Today, the most dangerous private sector industry in terms of worker fatalities is the construction industry. According to statistics compiled by OSHA, more than 20% of all private sector fatalities occur in construction. The vast majority of construction fatalities are caused by falls, electrocutions, or an employee being struck by an object (such as a piece of equipment). While accidents are sometimes unavoidable, the truth is that employer negligence is routinely the cause of construction site fatalities. In many cases of burns or electrocutions, the injured employee was not equipped with proper safety equipment. In other instances, a fall in the workplace could have been avoided if the employer had set up proper fall protection.
While the construction industry is the most fatal private sector industry in the United States, other industries such as commercial trucking rely heavily on compliance with safety procedures. If your loved one was fatally injured in a commercial trucking accident, it may be due to faulty brakes, an overloaded truck, or their company pressuring them into driving over the legally mandated hours limit. Regardless of the industry, a workplace fatality should never go uninvestigated. If your loved one has lost their life while working, speak with an experienced lawyer to discuss your options.
While OSHA and other organizations are working diligently to increase safety standards in the workplace, company negligence is still rampant throughout the United States. If the employer of a loved one acted negligently, and your loved one was killed, you need quality legal representation. At Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Mazur P.C., our firm is here to ensure that your family receives the compensation you need, in the aftermath of this tragedy. To schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable Kane County personal injury attorney, call us today at 630-907-0909
Source:
https://www.osha.gov/data/commonstats