A man from Webb, Alabama, was killed at a gas station close to the Alabama-Florida border recently. He had been working on the roof of a gas station canopy when suddenly he was pinned between the roof and the bucket of a bucket truck.
In the accident, which occurred September 22, a 45-year-old man died of the injuries he sustained at the Raceway station, just off U.S. Highway 231. According to the Houston County Coroner, the man was attempting to remove some signs above gas pumps. Somehow, a component of the canopy touched some of the controls of the bucket truck, which caused it to elevate to the canopy’s roof.
The worker was pinned and ultimately crushed to death, although the coroner was unsure whether the official cause of death was suffocation or internal injuries.
Workplace accidents and injuries
Whenever an accident occurs in the scope of someone’s employment, there are a number of legal issues to consider. If the accident was simply that — an accident — and no one is to blame, then worker’s compensation insurance can help the victim or his or her family cover the costs of medical bills and lost wages.
However, if the accident was due to negligence of another party, then the victim and his/her family may need to file a personal injury claim against that party. If the accident led to the victim’s death and was the fault of another party, the victim’s surviving family members may need to seek damages through a wrongful death lawsuit.
If you or a loved one have been injured or killed while performing his or her job duties, reach out to an experienced Bradenton workplace accident attorney for more information on your rights and legal options.