Three workers sustained serious job injuries after a scissor lift they were working on 20 feet in the air fell onto the street in Glendale. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the accident occurred on the north side of the Glendale Galleria the morning of June 14, 2010. The men were doing work on an exterior planter box outside a second floor window at the corner of Broadway and Orange Street. The lift suddenly became unstable and fell onto Broadway. The workers, who are believed to be part of the maintenance crew at the Glendale Galleria, were transported to local hospitals.
My heart goes out to these injured workers. I hope they have not sustained catastrophic injuries. I wish them all a speedy and complete recovery, and will keep them in my prayers.
Fall Statistics
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2008, fatal work injuries involving falls decreased 20 percent in 2008 after a sharp increase in 2007. The 847 fatal falls reported in 2007 was an all-time high. Fatal falls to a lower level, which accounted for 85 percent of all falls, had decreased by 23 percent in 2008. Fatal falls from roofs were down 26 percent and falls from ladders decreased by 14 percent.
Seeking Compensation
These numbers are no doubt good news. However, serious and catastrophic injuries frequently result from falls. For workers who make a living doing what they do, and for their families, a serious injury can cause tremendous emotional and financial strain. Injured workers are covered under California workers compensation benefits, but these benefits are extremely inadequate when it comes to helping cover medical expenses or lost wages.
Third-Party Claims
In such cases, workers and their families might want to look into whether they have a third-party claim, which is a claim filed against a party other than the employer. Examples of third parties are contractors, sub-contractors, defective product manufacturers or firms in charge of maintaining the equipment used for the work. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to advise workers about whether they have a valid third-party claim. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to injured workers and their families.
Have you or someone you know suffered an injury on-the-job? What were some of the toughest challenges you faced on the road to receiving compensation?
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
SLS Consulting