One person died from injuries sustained in a workplace accident in Bradenton.
The accident occurred on the evening of Tuesday, July 5 at WastePro in Bradenton, Investigators say the employee who was killed, Leroy Firestone, was standing on a ladder doing maintenance work on the hydraulic system of a garbage truck. While he was doing his job, the hydraulic blade/door on the side of the truck kicked into gear, resulting in it closing on Firestone’s head.
The victim was pronounced dead of his injuries at the scene of the accident. Investigators say it seemed as though there was some miscommunication between the victim and another employee that resulted in the machinery being activated during the maintenance procedure.
Workplace accidents can result in liability claims or workers’ comp
After suffering a workplace accident, you have the option of filing either a workers’ compensation claim or, if the circumstances are right, a personal injury lawsuit.
Anyone who has been injured can file a workers’ compensation claim regardless of which party is at fault. If you file a personal injury lawsuit, you will need to prove another party was liable to be successful. That party could be your employer, a third-party contractor, the manufacturer of a vehicle or piece of machinery or any other party that contributed somehow to the incident.
When victims of workplace accidents die due to their injuries, their surviving family members can file workers’ compensation claims or wrongful death lawsuits on their behalf.
For more information about your legal options after suffering a workplace accident, contact an experienced Bradenton, FL personal injury lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.