Certain jobs have risks that can be dangerous and deadly. An industrial accident in California is one of them, as employees are often subjected to falling objects and other work-related incidents. In one situation, a construction inspector was killed when he was hit by a car. The family has since filed a lawsuit against the employer.
The tragic incident happened back in 2010. According to reports, the construction inspector was working on a highway repaving project in the late-night hours. For unknown reasons, a motorist hit the construction inspector, which resulted in his death. Authorities arrived at the scene but declined to issue any charges to the driver.
According to the lawsuit, the construction project on the highway was not safe for its workers. However, the Shelly Company does not believe that it is liable for the tragedy that took place. The jury agreed with the plaintiff and awarded $39 million in compensatory and punitive damages. In spite of this, the company reportedly plans on appealing the verdict.
An industrial accident can lead to serious injuries and death, especially when exposed to harmful environments. The jury in this case determined that there was enough evidence to award damages to the plaintiff for the work accident that resulted in death. California families of employees who have died in workplace accidents may have the right to pursue benefits by filing workers’ compensation claims against the employers. Further, the civil court system may award financial relief if evidence deems that the employer acted in a negligent manner that caused or contributed to death.
Source: claimsjournal.com, “Ohio Jury Awards $39M in Fatal Construction Accident“, , April 6, 2014
