Fatal Construction Accident In Atwater
Gregory Moore, a 50-year-old Stockton man, was killed in a northern California construction accident on March 25, 2009. According to a news report in the Modesto Bee, Moore, an employee of Bay City Construction, was with a crew rebuilding Highway 99 near Atwater. Moore was bending over to pick up some debris when he was knocked down and run over by a tractor. Moore was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Moore’s team was working on the southbound lane near Grove Avenue, which is being built under contract with Caltrans.
My hear goes out to the family and friends of Gregory Moore who was killed in this tragic on-the-job accident. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics construction accidents accounted for 1,226 fatal work injuries in the United States in 2006, the most of any industrial sector. Construction accident fatalities increased by 3 percent in 2006 compared to 2005. According to the California Department of Occupational Health and Safety there were 92 construction accident fatalities in California in 2005.
In this case, based on the newspaper report, it appears that the person who was operating the heavy construction equipment was not paying attention to his surroundings and did not see Moore in front of the tractor. There is no question that Moore’s family would be entitled to California workers compensation benefits from his employer. However, it is a known fact that California workers compensation benefits are just inadequate when it comes to compensating the family of a deceased worker for lost wages or medical/funeral expenses, much less the loss of a beloved family member and primary breadwinner.
The family of Gregory Moore would be well-advised to contact a reputed California workers compensation attorney with experience handling “third-party claims.” A third party claim is a claim that is filed against a negligent party that is an entity other than the employer. Examples include a defective product manufacturer, a contractor or a sub contractor. Third-party claims may be worth a lot more to these struggling families than workers compensation benefits.