Despite improved safety standards, the risks of factory and industrial work are still very real for millions of Americans and their families. All over the U.S., factory workers are injured or at risk of injury every day. A truly tragic event struck a factory in Fontana, Calif., on November 12, 2012.
California Worker Killed in Factory Accident
Workers at the plant were overseeing the winding of high-tension cable – which is typically used as support for concrete pillars – on an industrial spool when the cable snapped. The cable hit two nearby workers, killing one and injuring the other according to multiple media reports.
The injured worker, who is said to be in his early 20s, was rushed to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center immediately following the incident. The accident is under investigation by the county district attorney’s office and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that 4,069 workers were killed on the job in 2011, which equals almost 90 a week or 13 a day. These numbers do not add up.
Workers Rights if Injured at the Workplace
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a work-related accident, you may be able to file a claim for compensation to recover damages. You can claim workers’ compensation benefits, including compensation for medical bills, and, in some cases of gross negligence, you may be able to sue your employer directly.
For instance, if the company ordered the performance of a knowingly dangerous action under unsafe conditions, it may be considered grossly negligent. If your work injury was related to a defective product, then you might be able to sue the company that made the product rather than, or in addition to, your employer.
There are Many Ways a Workplace Injury Happens, Filing a Claim is the Answer
To discuss these and other options pertaining to a workplace injury claim, contact a workplace injury attorney in New York. Contact a workplace injury attorney at Gacovino, Lake & Associates for more information or a free consultation about your personal injury or wrongful death case after an accident at work. Call us at: 1-800-246-4878.
