It is not uncommon for Louisianans to be injured on the job regardless of the type of work they do. Many people in the state work on oil rigs and in construction. Accidents, however, can happen regardless of the job and if it is considered safe, risky or somewhere in between. In some unfortunate instances, these accidents will be fatal and a family will suffer the loss of a loved one after a fatal accident on the job. Statistics are released intermittently to detail the number of fatal work accidents and their causes. People who have lost a loved one in a wrongful death incident at work should keep track of these statistics as they can be useful for a potential legal case.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Census of 2016 Fatal Occupational Injuries indicates that there was a rise in fatal accidents at work from the previous year. In 2016, there were 5,190 deaths. That is a rise of 7 percent from 2015. For full-time equivalent workers, there was an increase to 3.6 for every 100,000 workers from 3.4 for 100,000 workers in 2015.
The highest number of fatalities happened in the transportation industry with approximately two for every five fatal work accidents. Violence in the workplace is a growing problem as it rose by 23 percent and was second. Workers who died because a fall, slip or trip also increased. The number rose by 6 percent in 2016. It has risen by 25 percent since 2011. For tree trimmers and pruners, carpenters, roofers, and drivers of heavy and tractor-trailer trucks, the total rose by 25 percent in 2016. Nationwide, fatalities on the job was at its highest rate since 2008.
When a family receives a call that their loved one died in a fatal accident at work, there will be many issues that they must think about. The loss of companionship, lost wages and emotional toll will be factors in how they move forward. This is true no matter the kind of work their loved one did. Having legal assistance to navigate the situation is key. Often, a wrongful death lawsuit is the only way to receive fair compensation. A lawyer can give advice on how to pursue a case.
Source: claimsjournal.com, “Fatal Injuries in the U.S. Workplace Increased 7% in 2016,” Jan. 22, 2018
