Last month in Tampa, a 57-year-old man died as a result of an accident that occurred at his place of employment. According to a report by one local news source, the man was working for Infra-Metals when the accident took place. Evidently, the man was using a forklift to move a large steel beam, when the beam collided with a pile of similar beams nearby. The force from the collision pushed the forklift back, crushing the man inside. Nearby workers attempted to remove the beam as soon as possible, but it was too late by the time they did. The man left behind a wife, eight children, and 17 grandchildren. His wife told reporters that she wonders what could have been done to prevent the fatal accident. She said that her husband had told her of problems with the forklift in the past, but she assumed that they were all resolved once he stopped talking about them. Reporters looked into the safety record of Infra-Metals, and they found that there had been one minor violation recently for a worker failing to wear a safety vest. The federal government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is currently conducting an in-depth investigation into the accident. Workplace Accidents in Florida Each year tens of thousands of Floridians are injured in workplace accidents. In many cases, the workers are covered by workers’ compensation or by short- or long-term disability benefits. However, even in these circumstances, the employer itself may also be responsible for additional damages, depending on how the accident occurred. Employers owe all employees a duty to maintain a safe workplace environment free of unanticipated preventable hazards. When a workplace is not maintained in a safe manner, any worker who is injured due to that unsafe workplace environment may be able to hold the employer liable for his or her injuries, just as if the injury had occurred on someone else’s land or at another’s place of business. The key factor in these kinds of accidents is the knowledge of the dangerous condition. Did the employer know that there was a dangerous condition but fail to do anything to remedy it? If the answer is yes, the victim of the accident is that much closer to recovery. Of course, there are other elements of a workplace injury lawsuit that must be met. To learn more, contact a dedicated personal injury attorney. Have You Been Injured in a Workplace Accident? If you have recently been injured in a workplace accident, and you believe that the accident was due to the unsafe condition of your workplace, you may be entitled to monetary damages to help compensate you for your injuries as well as for your pain and suffering. However, employers are used to these kinds of suits and have their own dedicated legal counsel on hand to deflect liability. If you have any questions about your workplace accident, make sure to consult with a dedicated Florida personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Call 352-387-8700 to schedule a free initial consultation with an attorney today. More Blog Posts: Tampa Bay Attorney Dies in Boating Accident, Ocala Injury Lawyers Blog, published August 20, 2014. Tampa City Truck Driver Kills Toddler in Accident, Ocala Injury Lawyers Blog, published September 12, 2014.
