A 35-year-old forklift driver died in a tragic construction site accident on a recent Monday in Lafayette, California. According to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), the worker was employed by SiteOne Landscape Supply.
The man was operating a forklift, loading and unloading paving stones when the accident happened. Somehow he was trapped by something. Prior to the accident, he had been working for the company for almost a year. At the time of the accident, the man was helping with a residential driveway installation project. No further details have been released.
The man’s manager said that he had a positive attitude, was always friendly and was helpful. He is left behind by his wife, who recently created a GoFundMe page in his memory. She described him as a lover of God, and that he will be missed greatly by the many who loved him. The man and his wife served as pastors for a local Christian organization called Comunidad Cristiana Jesucristo es la Respuesta.
When a California worker dies on the job — and he or she leaves behind close family members — those family members may be able to seek workers’ compensation death benefits. In particular, spouses of the deceased workers and those who can prove that they were financially dependent on the worker may be entitled to receive death benefits. For surviving spouses, death benefits usually continue for life or until the spouse remarries.
Did you lose a loved one in a tragic, on-the-job accident? A California workers’ compensation attorney can assist you in evaluating your legal rights and options.
Source: patch.com, “Man Who Died In Tragic Forklift Accident Worked For Livermore Company,” Aug. 16, 2017
