Personal Injury Q and A » job injury

Los Angeles Worker Injured in Industrial Accident

Personal Injury Lawyer — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:46:55 +0000

A man suffered a serious job injury after his hand got caught in a machine, the night of July 19, 2011. According to a City News Service report, the workplace accident occurred on North San Fernando Road in a Cypress Park commercial business in Los Angeles. Officials say that the man may have suffered broken bones when his hand was caught in the machine. It is unclear at this time what caused the accident. An investigation is ongoing.

My thoughts and prayers are with the man injured in this Los Angeles industrial accident. I wish him the very best for a complete and speedy recovery.

Accidents Involving Machinery

Accidents involving machinery and equipment can result in devastating injuries such as broken bones and amputations. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that three-fifths of all work-related amputations involve a worker's finger or arm getting caught in a piece of machinery. Approximately 49 percent of injuries related to mechanical power presses, for example, result in amputations.

What Caused This Work-Related Injury Accident?

The report does not specify how this accident occurred. Was the machine defective in any way? Was this accident the result of a defective product? Was it properly maintained? Was the worker fully trained in how to safely use the machine? Could the accident have been prevented if there were more oversight or supervision? Was the victim overworked or fatigued at the time of the injury accident? I trust investigators are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what caused this accident and why.

Worker's Claim for Compensation

Injured workers may file for workers compensation benefits when they are hurt in a work-related accident. In cases involving negligence, additional compensation may be available through a third-party liability claim. A third party claim is usually filed when the accident was caused by a party other than an employer. Examples of third parties include contractors, sub-contractors, equipment maintenance firms and manufacturers of defective products.

In such cases, it is important that the machinery or equipment that caused the injuries be preserved intact so it can be thoroughly examined by an expert for evidence of defects or malfunctions. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to help injured workers and their families better understand their legal rights and options.

Seriously injured in a Los Angeles County on-the-job accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?

Call your best friends in the legal industry after a Los Angeles workplace accident. Call 866-990-8787. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.

Call a BISNAR | CHASE Los Angeles personal injury lawyer for a free professional evaluation of your case by attorneys who have represented over 6,000 clients since 1978. You will experience award winning representation and outstanding personal service by a friendly law firm in a comfortable environment.

Worker Fatally Electrocuted on the Job

admin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 22:20:03 +0000

A 27-year-old man sustained a fatal job injury after he was electrocuted while working on a pool in Palm Desert. According to a news report in The Desert Sun, the incident occurred at The Lakes Country Club on Country Club Drive, the morning of August 19, 2010. The contract worker was apparently standing on the steps of the pool when a damaged extension cord with exposed wires came into contact with the metal handrail and electrocuted him. Security personnel performed CPR and the authorities were called to the scene. But the man was pronounced dead at the hospital. Cal-OSHA officials are investigating the accident.

I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this man. His grieving family members and friends will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.

Workplace Fatalities Statistics

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, 404 Californians died on the job. According to the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health's web site, in 2005, 24 workers died after being electrocuted on the job.

Workplace Accident Claims

In this particular case, it is not clear exactly what caused this worker's fatal accident. There are several unanswered questions here. Why were the electric wires damaged and exposed? Who else was at the worksite? Did the club, where the worker was on the job, create a hazardous condition for the worker? Were there any defective products involved? Were any other employees or contractors responsible for the damaged wires at that location? I trust Cal/OSHA investigators will be looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.

In such cases, injured workers or their families will usually be entitled to California worker's compensation benefits from their employer. However, if the accident was caused due to the negligence of another individual or entity, that person or entity can also be held liable for the worker's injuries or wrongful death. In a fatal case, the deceased worker's family can file what is known as a "third-party claim" against the at-fault party. These claims are usually worth many times more than worker's compensation, which is usually inadequate to cover such a major loss. An experienced Riverside personal injury lawyer will be able to advise workers and their families about their legal rights and options.

Is there a danger of serious injury at your workplace? We would like to hear your concerns about the dangers you face on the job every day.

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 Fatally Injured in Wood Chipper Accident

Personal Injury Lawyer — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:38:56 +0000

A 61-year-old worker in Santa Cruz County sustained a fatal job injury after he accidentally got caught in a wood chipper, Bay City News report. The man, who has not yet been identified, was employed with the county Public Works Department and was part of a crew that was doing maintenance and tree work on Whiting Road near Paulsen Road in Watsonville the morning of June 7, 2010. California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) officials said the man was feeding trim wood into a wood chipper at a work site when he somehow got caught in the chipper. He died at the work site. State officials are investigating this tragic accident.

View Larger Map

I offer my deepest condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of this deceased worker for their irreparable loss. My heart goes out to his colleagues who actually witnessed this gruesome accident. Please keep them in your prayers.

Wood Chipper Accidents

Working with wood chippers has a certain degree of risk associated with it. According to a 2005 report by the American Medical Association, wood chippers were responsible for 31 deaths and 2,042 injuries in the 10-year period between 1992 and 2002.

Accident Causes

There are more questions than answers in this case. Was this accident the result of worker error or inattention? Was this accident caused by a defective product? In other words, did the wood chipper malfunction? Did the worker have sufficient knowledge and training to operate the wood chipper? Did the county department that employed the worker develop and implement written emergency procedures to stop the machine in case of malfunctioning? I trust Cal/OSHA officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine whose fault this accident was and whether the county department of public works should be cited for any violations.

Third-Party Claim

The family of the deceased worker may have a "third-party claim" here. A "third-party claim" is filed when an injured worker or his family seeks compensation from a party other than the victim's employer. Such a "third party" could be a contractor or sub contractor or the manufacturer of a defective product that caused or contributed to the victim's injuries or death. A third-party claim is usually worth a lot more to families of deceased victims than California workers compensation benefits, which are woefully inadequate and fail to provide fair compensation for injured victims and their families. An experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer will be able to advise families about their legal rights and options in such cases.

What are the biggest challenges faced by workers and their families in the aftermath of a job injury?

Worker's Fingers Severed in Riverside Industrial Accident

Personal Injury Lawyer — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 22:11:14 +0000

A worker in a Riverside factory sustained a serious job injury the morning of April 8, 2010, after his hand slipped on some equipment and two of his fingers were severed. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the industrial accident occurred at Four Slide Engineering in the 4600 block of Wade Avenue in Perris, California. Riverside County fire officials said that the business where this on-the-job accident occurred was a metal roofing manufacturing company. The injured worker, a machinist, was transported to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Officials from the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) are investigating this incident.

I sympathize with this injured worker for the pain and suffering he must be going through as a result of these serious injuries. I sincerely hope his two severed fingers can be reattached and that he has not suffered any catastrophic injuries. I wish this injured worker the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. He and his family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Industrial Accident Statistics

According to Cal-OSHA’s 2005 statistics, a total of 453 people were killed in industrial accident in California. Out of these fatalities, 38 involved workers who were injured as a result of some type of equipment malfunction.

What Caused This Workplace Accident?

In this particular case, it is not clear exactly what caused the finger amputations. Based on a preliminary report, it appears that the machinist's hand slipped and was trapped by the machine he was working on. However, there are several questions here. Was this worker trained for the job he was doing? Was he following safety procedures as required by law? Was he aware of these safety procedures? Was there some type of malfunction in the machinery or equipment that he was handling? I trust Cal/OSHA investigators will be looking closely into these and other issues in order to determine if there were any safety violations and exactly what caused his personal injuries.

Third Party Claims

The injured worker in this case would be entitled to California workers compensation benefits through his employer. However, these benefits are hardly sufficient to cover medical expenses and lost earnings in cases where the worker has suffered injuries that leave him or her disabled for life or in a situation where he or she cannot return to work for a lengthy period of time.

Victims, in these types of injury accidents, might want to consider filing a third-party claim. Such claims are usually filed against a party, other than an employer, whose negligence may have caused or contributed to the worker's serious injury. In this case, an example of a third party may be a company that was contracted to maintain equipment and machinery. Other examples of third parties include contractors, sub-contractors or the manufacturers of defective products that caused the injury. An experienced Riverside personal injury lawyer will be able to give victims and their families more information about third party claims, as well as about their legal rights in such situations.

What is the most dangerous intersection in your city for pedestrians?

Worker Fatally Injured after Being Struck by Front Loader

Personal Injury Lawyer — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:12:00 +0000

Vicente Zaragoza, 76, died from a job injury after he was run over by a front loader at the Sonoma County dump. According to a Bay City News report, Zaragoza was sorting metal and plastics from piles of yard waste the morning of December 18, 2009, when he was struck and killed. The owner of the facility said the driver of the front loader did not see Zaragoza.

OSHA Investigation Ongoing

Officials from the California Department of Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) are investigating this workplace accident. Authorities will examine the front loader for malfunctions and will also look into whether it had a beeper alarm that sounded when it backed up. Officials say Zaragoza was hit as the front loader was backing up. The investigation will also examine how the loader operator verifies there is no one close by before backing up and whether someone guides the driver during the process of backing up when other employees are working in the area.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of Vicente Zaragoza for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. My heart goes out to everybody who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.

Accident Fatality Statistics

According to Cal/OSHA's 2005 accident fatality statistics, 76 workers died as a result of contact with objects and equipment including vehicles. OSHA mandates that employers have a vehicle inspection checklist and make sure they follow it diligently. The checklist includes checking vehicle brake connections, parking brake, emergency brake, tires, coupling devices, horn, operating controls and safety devices such as reverse signal alarm.

Third Party Claims

In such job injury cases an OSHA investigation could take several weeks. However, Zaragoza's family would find it in their best interests to promptly consult a reputed San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who could help them file a "third party claim." Families of workers who are fatally injured on the job will be entitled to California worker's compensation benefits. However, those benefits are extremely inadequate in cases where families have to deal with the loss of a primary wage earner. A third party claim is filed against an entity other than an employer such as a contractor, sub-contractor or the manufacturer of a defective product. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free and comprehensive consultation to injured workers and their families.

Orange County Fatal Job Injury

Personal Injury Lawyer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:34:09 +0000

Angel Celaya, 48, suffered serious personal injury in a workplace accident the afternoon of September 21, 2009 after he fell off a scissor lift. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Celaya was working in one of the buildings at Boeing's Huntington Beach campus when he fell off the lift. Huntington Beach firefighters responded to the call, but Celaya was pronounced dead just nine minutes after his fall.

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

Work Injury Statistics in California

According to the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal-OSHA), in 2005, a total of 453 people were killed in industrial accidents. Out of these fatalities, 59 deaths were attributed to falls and 25 were caused by workers getting trapped in machinery.

In this particular case, it's not quite clear what caused this fatal job injury. There are many questions here. Who was Celaya working for? What kind of a job was he doing? Was Celaya properly trained to perform the task he was doing at the time of his fall? Were all the required safety procedures being enforced? Was there any negligence involved on someone's part that caused this accident?

An Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

The tragic aspect of an industrial or workplace accident is that it can cause devastating injuries that can prove fatal or result in permanent, lifelong disabilities for the worker. In many cases, the injured or deceased worker is the sole breadwinner for his family. Workers and their families are usually covered by California workers compensation benefits. However, these benefits are woefully inadequate and often do not compensate an injured worker or his family to cover medical expenses, loss of earnings, cost of long term care and other related losses and damages.

In cases where a death is involved, the family of deceased worker may be able to file a wrongful death claim against a "third party" who could be a contractor, sub-contractor or the manufacturer of a defective product that may have caused the fatal injury. Such third party claims are worth a lot more to families than workers compensation benefits. An experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer will be able to explain to families of victims about their legal rights and options in such cases. The best injury law firms will offer free and comprehensive consultations to injured workers and their families.

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 source for the facts 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, please contact us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. Most of the best law firms will provide accident victims a free consultation.

We cannot fully inform any party or family member about their rights, options or the economic viability of any claim for compensation without a full investigation and consultation. We will not be conducting an investigation into this matter unless we are retained by a party. We will provide a free, confidential consultation to any, not at fault, person named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

Fatal Huntington Beach Construction Accident Caused by Trench Collapse

Personal Injury Lawyer — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:54:39 +0000

Javier Iniguez, 32, died in a Huntington Beach construction job accident after he was trapped in a trench collapse at a local construction site, The Orange County Register reports. The fatal job injury occurred the afternoon of April 27, 2009 in the 4600 block of Warner Avenue where Iniguez was trapped after soil and concrete fell on top of him. Iniguez was trapped about eight feet inside the trench head first, as about 40 firefighters tried in vain to rescue him.

Iniguez died at the scene. Iniguez was apparently working on the trench near Ocean Towers Luxury Apartments along with another worker. They were exposing the concrete foundation and painting a sealant to keep the foundation from water damage. Iniguez was the only one who was in the trench when it collapsed. The other worker, who has not been identified, was not injured.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Javier Iniguez, who died from his fatal on-the-job injury. I offer my deepest condolences to everybody who knew and loved Iniguez. Please keep them in your prayers.

This fatal construction accident is being investigated by the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA). Trench cave-ins are unfortunately common industrial accidents that cause death and injury. According to Cal/OSHA's statistics, over a five-year period between 2001 and 2005, 26 Californians have been killed in trench collapses and 207 Californians have been injured in these entirely preventable construction accidents. In almost every instance of trench collapse, it has been determined that the cause was a failure to shore up a trench properly, the state safety agency says.

The state spells out very specific regulations when it comes to trenches. Every time a worker enters an excavation 5 feet or deeper, companies must obtain a permit from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH). This California agency requires employers to conduct daily inspections of the trench and have competent safety systems in place. That includes paying close attention to how the soil is at the particular site. If the soil is loose or has liquid in it, it is more likely to cave in. Some of the other preventive steps include not parking heavy vehicles or equipment next to the trench and paying close attention to changing weather patterns.

There are also specific industry and safety standards for width and depth of excavations, which are designed to prevent tragedies like this. These standards require a competent foreperson to be physically present on site to ensure that they adhere to these important safety standards. In the state of California, every employer has the legal obligation to provide and maintain a safe and healthy workplace for employees, per the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973. If it is determined that the required safety measures were not followed here and the trench had not been properly shored-up, then Iniguez's employer would be fined by Cal/OSHA. Iniguez's family will no doubt be entitled to California workers compensation benefits. But they may also have a "third party claim" here. A third party claim is usually filed against someone other than an employer who is believed to have been negligent, such as a contractor, sub-contractor, maintenance personnel or the manufacturer of a defective product. Third party claims are usually worth 20 times more to a victim and/or their family than workers compensation benefits, which are extremely inadequate to compensate for such a huge loss. Javier Iniguez's family certainly needs reputed Orange County personal injury attorneys who have had success with third party claims on their side, to investigate this incident. I'd bet the construction contractor has already started their own investigation with their insurance company and attorneys. Iniguez's family needs a knowledgeable California personal injury attorney fighting for and protecting their legal rights and getting them the compensation they rightfully deserve.