A worker suffered serious injury in California after his arm was crushed in a Cerritos on-the-job accident, leaving him trapped for more than 50 minutes as firefighters tried to free him. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the accident occurred the night of October 21, 2009 at Apperson Print Resources. Firefighters had to use hydraulic tools to free the man’s arm. He was described as a “critical trauma patient” and transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.
My heart goes out to this worker who was seriously injured on the job. I can only imagine the pain and suffering he must have undergone as a result of having his arm crushed and trapped in the machine for 53 minutes. I hope and pray, he regains use of his arm and is able to make a full recovery so he can return to work. This injured worker will certainly be in my prayers.
Job Injury Statistics
According to statistics released by the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal-OSHA) in 2005, 453 people were killed in industrial accidents in the state. Out of these fatalities, 59 deaths were attributed to falls and 25 were caused by workers getting trapped in machinery.
If I were representing this worker, I would look into whether there is a “third party claim” here. A “third party claim” is a claim against someone other than an employer who can be held responsible for the accident, injuries and death. An example of such a third party is a contractor, sub-contractor or the manufacturer of a defective product. I would also want the machinery preserved in its current condition, unaltered, so it can be closely examined by an expert for evidence of malfunctions or product defects.
Worker’s Compensation Issues
This injured worker will no doubt receive workers’ compensation benefits through his employer. However, workers’ compensation benefits in California are extremely inadequate to compensate a worker in case of a serious injury, such as something that could result in a permanent disability or an injury that prevents him from working for an extended period of time. An experienced Los Angeles job injury lawyer will be able to guide the victim through this complicated process and help him secure the compensation he rightfully deserves.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys 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.