Los Gatos Accident Victims Benefit from Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys

Los Gatos Accident Victims Benefit from Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys

Workplace accidents need legal advocacy

Recently a crane killed two employees working on a bridge connecting Yolo and Sutter counties in northern California. One of the two men, Marcus Zane Powell, age 25, was from Los Gatos. Investigators determined that the crane’s state certification, which should be renewed annually, lapsed just days before the incident. The two men working for Disney Construction were in a crane-hoisted basket. When the gondola broke free, they plunged 80 feet to their death.

Equipment failure could have been prevented

While it may take months to determine the exact causes of an accident, keeping equipment up to code is integral to workplace safety. When that safety is compromised through lack of maintenance and lack of certification, accidents can and do happen, often with disastrous results. California state and federal regulations govern equipment safety. Sadly, this crane accident occurred just before the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) annual campaign to raise awareness and prevent falls in construction.

Not all workplace accidents are appropriate for workers’ compensation claims

Construction accidents are just one form of workplace accidents. Employees and contractors may also be harmed because of defective machinery or a third party’s negligence—such as a subcontractor or unsafe driver. The list of possible tragedies is seemingly endless, and workplace accidents often result in some of the most serious injuries. Employers must carry workers compensation insurance for their employees. However, not all accidents are covered by these policies and awards often fall short of the full compensation a person deserves. An experienced personal injury attorney at Golden State Lawyers understands that additional legal advocacy may be required, often through a civil lawsuit against a negligent third party. Determining whether the accident is a worker’s compensation case or should be filed against a third party is critical in ensuring an injured person receives full compensation for present and future medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering. While Golden State Lawyers does not handle workers compensation cases, we do represent workers in third-party liability civil claims. We will gladly evaluate cases free of charge for anyone who has been injured.

Wrongful death suits can be brought

When a worker dies because of the negligence of others, survivors may bring a wrongful death claim against the responsible parties. In California a surviving spouse, domestic partner and/or surviving children can file a wrongful death suit that requests:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Financial support that would have been provided by the deceased
• The economic value of household services that would have been provided by the deceased
• Loss of support, love, and companionship

Workplace accidents may also affect innocent bystanders

A pedestrian may be harmed by falling equipment, such as ladders and scaffolding, falling debris, explosions and fires, or defective machinery. Depending on the nature of the case, third parties may be liable, including property owners, materials suppliers, and contractors and subcontractors.

Excellent representation available to everyone

To best serve our clients, we handle cases on a contingency fee basis. That means we advance all costs of handling your claim and are not paid any fee unless we obtain compensation for you. We also do not charge for initial consultations or case evaluation.