California Personal Injury Attorneys » job injuries

Worker Suffers Major Injures On-the-Job

Joyce — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:12:52 +0000

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.

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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.

What are the biggest challenges faced by injured workers and their families in the aftermath of a workplace accident?

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.

Worker Suffers Major Injures On-the-Job is a post from: BestAttorney.com - BISNAR | CHASE California Personal Injury Lawyers

Maintenance Workers Seriously Injured at Glendale Galleria

Joyce — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 22:08:08 +0000

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.

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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?

Maintenance Workers Seriously Injured at Glendale Galleria is a post from: BestAttorney.com - BISNAR | CHASE California Personal Injury Lawyers

Worker Electrocuted in Accident on the Job

Toni — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:23:19 +0000

Max Martinez, a 26-year-old PG&E worker, sustained fatal job injuries after he was electrocuted while working in an underground vault in Benicia, California. According to a KGO-TV news report, the accident occurred the morning of March 17, 2010, when Martinez, a lineman, was installing a new transformer in the 12,000-volt vault. Three other workers were in the vault, but no one else was injured. California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal-OSHA) officials are investigating this incident.

My prayers and condolences go out to the family and friends of Max Martinez. Apparently he worked for PG&E for the last five years. Please keep this deceased worker's family in your thoughts and prayers.

PG&E Accidents

Cal-OSHA reports that they investigated 16 incidents involving PG&E workers over the last five years. The most recent fatal incident occurred in March 2009 when a PG&E worker, also a lineman, fell 30 feet from a utility pole, in the Sierra foothills.

At this point, it is not clear what exactly caused this fatal on-the-job accident. Investigators are likely to be looking into whether the workers had been trained properly for the job they were doing, and if all safety standards and procedures were being followed at the time. I trust OSHA investigators will conduct a thorough investigation and obtain some answers for Max Martinez's family. This must truly, be a devastating blow for them.

Possibility of Third Party Claims

Martinez's family would be well-advised to seek the counsel of a reputed San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who has a successful track record with "third-party claims." These are claims filed against parties other than the employer in a workplace accident. Examples of third parties are contractors, sub-contractors, or the manufacturers of defective and malfunctioning products.

Third-party claims are typically worth a lot more than workers compensation, to the families of deceased victims, or workers who have sustained serious injuries. California workers compensation benefits, which are usually available to injured workers or their families through employers, are woefully inadequate, especially in fatal accidents or incidents that result in catastrophic injuries. A large company such as PG&E will already have its attorneys and insurance people working on this case to primarily safeguard their interests. There is no question that Martinez's family needs a skilled and knowledgeable injury lawyer on their side, fighting for them and protecting their legal rights.

Worker Electrocuted in Accident on the Job is a post from: BestAttorney.com - BISNAR | CHASE California Personal Injury Lawyers

Tree Trimmer Fatally Injured On the Job in Pasadena

Toni — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:05:28 +0000

Artemio Hernandez, 40, a tree trimmer, sustained fatal job injuries while trimming a palm tree in a Pasadena backyard, the morning of February 13, 2010. According to a news report in the Pasadena Star News, Hernandez was working behind a house in the 500 block of South Oak Knoll Avenue. The man was suspended at a height of about 50 feet on the palm tree when a ring of fronds struck him, Pasadena fire officials said. A gardener heard Hernandez shout out initially, but did not hear anything from him afterward. Firefighters had to cut through the fronds to free the man from the tree.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Artemio Hernandez for their tragic and devastating loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.

Tree-trimming Fatality Statistics

Tree-trimming can seem like a simple activity. But in reality, it can be tricky and extremely dangerous because these workers are operating from high elevations. There is the possibility of catastrophic injuries or death. There is the possibility of tree trimmers falling, getting electrocuted, becoming victim to defective or malfunctioning equipment, or being crushed by falling trees or debris. According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, from 1992 to 2007, a total of 1,285 people were killed in tree-trimming accidents. Of these deaths, 42 percent occurred when a person was hit by a falling tree or branch. Another 34 percent were killed by a fall from a tree and 14 percent were killed by electrocution.

Third Party Claims

In such cases, if a tree trimmer works for a company, his family will be entitled to receive California workers compensation benefits. Sometimes, in these types of accidents, families may be able to file a third-party claim against someone other than an employer, who allowed a dangerous condition to exist, which caused the accident. Examples of such third parties include a homeowner, contractor, sub-contractor or the manufacturer of a defective product.

Families of deceased workers, in such fatal injury accidents, would be well-advised to consult with a reputed Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who is experienced and has a successful track record filing third party claims on behalf of injured workers and their families. The best personal injury lawyers will always offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured victims and their families.

Tree Trimmer Fatally Injured On the Job in Pasadena is a post from: BestAttorney.com - BISNAR | CHASE California Personal Injury Lawyers