Fort Walton Beach Personal Injury Blog

The recent penalties issued to a utility contractor in Florida underscores the many ways in which employers expose their workers to life-threatening hazards. Too many workers suffer catastrophic injuries or even lose their lives due to business owners' noncompliance with federal safety regulations. While the fact that workers' compensation benefits are available may provide some comfort, it could never replace a lost limb or loved one.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed a fine of over $270,000 for one willful and one serious violation after concluding an investigation. The incident involved a collapsed trench that caused injuries to one worker. OSHA inspectors say they found workers in trenches with no cave-in protection. Furthermore, water had collected in the bottom of the excavation while work was underway.

When a life is lost in a Florida workplace, the surviving family members are typically entitled to seek financial relief. This is done by filing a workers' compensation death benefits claim. However, in some cases, such claims can be extremely complicated, especially if the deceased worker was employed by an entity from another state -- or even another country.

One such case may follow the death of a circus performer. Reportedly, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched an investigation into this fatality that occurred at a recent Cirque du Soleil performance. Police say an aerial artist who had been in the employ of the entertainment company for longer than 15 years fell a distance of 15 to 20 feet to the hard surface below.

A bridge spanning about 200 feet to allow pedestrians to move between the Florida International University and Sweetwater on the opposite side of a Miami highway was recently put in place to excited fanfare. Unfortunately, the structure collapsed onto the busy roadway below a mere five days later. The bridge was scheduled to go into use next year. Many people were injured and at least four died when the massive concrete slabs and steel crashed onto the cars below. In the aftermath, personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits will likely follow.

Search-and-rescue crews and K9 units scrutinized the chaotic scene in search of injured victims. Reportedly, the bodies of four deceased victims were recovered, and a hospital said it admitted 10 injured individuals. The conditions of two of those were critical. A director of the hospital said one person suffered serious head trauma and a second person had suffered cardiac arrest, although this person has since been stabilized.

Being bitten by a dog will naturally be a traumatizing experience for anyone in Florida, and knowing what to do under such circumstances is essential. A victim might not readily realize the severity of the bite, and the subsequent medical expenses and other losses could lead to a personal injury lawsuit. The success of such a claim may depend mainly on the information and evidence gathered immediately after the incident.

Getting the name and contact details of any witnesses and the dog owner is essential, along with information about rabies vaccinations. Dog bites can quickly become infected, and prompt preventative medical treatment is vital. Reporting dog bites with animal control can prevent similar incidents. Recording as many details as possible about the circumstances surrounding the attack may be helpful in a lawsuit, considering that it may only get to court after the passing of many months.