Legal Analysis By Attorneys
Breaking Legal News
An industrial worker was killed Wednesday, November 13th around 5:30AM when he was involved in a forklift accident at the east El Paso Toro Distribution Center.
Authorities have yet to release the name of the victim; they've also offered few details regarding the deadly incident other than to confirm the death. Witnesses indicated having observed medical crews arrive at the scene, but they later dispersed.
Toro's Senior Human Resources Manager Robert Schmitt offered the following message with regards to the incident:
"This is a tragic day for the family, employees and the entire organization that have been affected by the death of an employee at our El Paso distribution center"
A regular contributor to Legal Herald and experienced industrial accident attorney, Marc Lenahan offered the following insight for persons and family members of persons who may have suffered injuries or been killed in an industrial workplace setting:
"It has often been said that without the help of power tools and heavy machinery, we would not have been able to build the industrial country we have today. And while this may indeed be true given that these tools make easy work of tasks that would require more than a single worker to complete, they also bring in a level of risk to the workplace.
For this reason, federal supervising bodies like the Occupational Health and Safety Organization (OSHA) are tasked with implementing safety regulations that ensure the health of workers who are in contact with these tools every day. Unfortunately, these regulations can be overlooked or possibly not enforced, often leading to severe injuries and even death.
Specialized tools such as tractors, bulldozers, forklifts, excavators, cranes and more must be carefully maintained as well as expertly operated by trained personnel. If they are not, then there are various types of severe injuries that can occur such as run over accidents, 'struck-by' accidents, having limbs stuck in the machinery, and being injured by falling debris from the top of the machine.
Fortunately, the law permits workers injured by heavy machinery to receive compensation via a worker's compensation claim. When successful, this claim can help cover all medical costs and part of lost wages, among other damages. And yet, if the claim is not properly filed, it can be denied outright, leaving victims to fend on their own with costs they did not bring upon themselves.
In these situations, enlisting the help of an industrial accident attorney can prove vital. An experienced lawyer in this field will know how to combat the insurance companies through legal proceedings and help clients obtain the full compensation they deserve. If there exists the possibility of filing a lawsuit after the accident, a lawyer will be able to determine this as well, and manage both the claim and lawsuit at the same time."
info@legalherald.com