Workers’ compensation: Tragic accident results in fatality

Florida workers who deal with heavy equipment or large, commercial vehicles are constantly at risk of suffering workplace injuries. While an office can also suffer injury, those who work in construction, use machinery or drive trucks during the workday typically have a greater chance of being involved in a workplace accident. Workers’ compensation benefits provide financial relief to injured workers during recovery, as well as to spouses or immediate family members in cases where an on-the-job accident resulted in a worker’s death.

A work accident occurred in another state when a man was working on the hopper at the rear of a garbage truck. The hopper, or compactor, is the rear part of a garbage truck where trash is compressed by a machine to make room for more garbage inside the compartment. On a recent Monday, a man who had been employed by a particular trash company for a long time was killed when something went wrong as he was carrying out his duties at the rear of a garbage truck.

Both police and medical personnel were dispatched to the scene. Responders gave their best efforts to try to save the man’s life. Sadly, however, he succumbed to his injuries after rescuers transported him to a nearby hospital.

An investigation of the incident is underway to determine the sequence of events that unfolded in the moments before the tragic workplace accident occurred. In Florida and all other states, a spouse or other immediate family member whose loved one has died in similar circumstances may wish to discuss the case with an experienced workers’ compensation law attorney. Doing so provides much needed support to help navigate the workers’ comp system to file a claim for benefits, which, of course, cannot replace the loss of a loved one but may bring financial relief to a family in need following a fatal workplace accident.

You may be one of many Florida workers who are at risk for injury in the workplace. Such workers would include those in the construction industry, as well as those who work in the fishing, agriculture, aviation or logging industries. Then again, you could work behind a desk in an office and slip on a wet floor or suffer any number of injuries on the job. Filing a workers’ compensation claim is common after a workplace accident, but it’s also common for challenges to arise during the process.

As an injured Florida worker, you’d typically be eligible to recover medical expenses and lost wages. In certain circumstances, you may also qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Sadly, many workplace accidents result in fatalities. In such cases, family members may be eligible to collect death and survivors’ benefits.

In a perfect world, if you were recovering from an on-the-job injury, you would file a claim, it would be processed quickly, and you’d get all the benefits to which you’re entitled. This could help you restore your health and make ends meet while you’re recovering. In reality, the claims process is often highly stressful because employers or insurance agencies sometimes create obstacles that impede an injured worker’s ability to collect benefits. If an insurance company denies your initial claim, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should give up hope. Many workers have gotten benefits by appealing denials.

If you have an injury, illness or disability that resulted from a Florida workplace accident, you can reach out for legal support by requesting a meeting with Rosenthal Levy Simon & Sosa. This is the first logical step to take to seek guidance and support regarding workers’ compensation laws and particularly important if your claim has been denied. Relying on experienced legal advocacy is the best choice, especially when you’re having trouble navigating the claims process.