A worker sustained critical job injuries the morning of June 19, 2010 after he fell into a multi-blade grinder and lost both his legs. According to an ABC News report, the major injury accident occurred at the Jobbers Meat Packing Company at Fruitland Avenue and Downey Road in Vernon. The worker's leg was amputated above the knee by the machine, which is described as a type of meat grinder. The worker was transported to an area hospital in serious condition. Officials are looking into how this horrific accident occurred.
I sympathize deeply with this injured worker and his family. I wish him the very best for a speedy recovery. He probably won't be able to return to work because of the leg amputations. He and his family will be in my prayers.
Worker Injury Statistics
According to Cal-OSHA's 2005 statistics, 76 workers died in construction and industrial accidents in California as a result of contact with equipment. Totally, 453 California workers were killed in 2005 in industrial accidents. On-the-job accidents also lead to a number of catastrophic injuries each year.
Cause of the Accident
Based on this news report, it is not clear how or why the worker fell into the meat grinder. There are several questions to be answered here. Was the worker trained for the job? Was he advised by his employer of all safety procedures to be followed while operating the machinery? And did he follow those procedures? Was there a dangerous or unsafe condition that led to the accident? Was this accident the result of malfunctioning equipment, which had not been properly maintained? Was the equipment defective? These are all important questions that must be answered in order determine the cause and liability.
Claim for Compensation
In cases where workers have sustained catastrophic injuries, they will no doubt receive California workers compensation from their employers. However, in California, workers compensation benefits prove inadequate and may not fully cover medical expenses and lost wages faced by seriously hurt workers and their families.
Injured workers should consider filing a "third-party claim," which seeks compensation from a negligent party other than an employer. For example, if a defective product caused the accident, then the manufacturer of the defective product could also be held liable. A Los Angeles personal injury lawyer experienced in handling third-party claims will be able to advise injured workers and their families about their legal rights and options.
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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.
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