Posts in category: Wrongful Death

Is your job putting you at a deadly risk? Read this post to learn about the deadliest jobs in America, and how someone else’s negligence can put you in danger.

Many employers use strict safety standards to protect employees. However, no matter how many precautions are taken, some jobs are just inherently risky.

If you have been injured on the job, or if your loved one died due to a workplace accident, don’t hesitate to consult with a knowledgeable Florida attorney. You may be eligible to receive compensation due to someone else’s negligence.

These are the types of jobs where you are most likely to become injured or killed.

Logger

Logging carries a high risk of being struck by an object. The intense physical labor and equipment involved in logging also makes it more likely that will be injured or die on the job. Worse, most logging accidents occur in remote areas where emergency medical attention may not be available. Logging is one of the most dangerous working environments in the country.

Commercial Fishing Workers

As with loggers, commercial fishing workers typically work where medical assistance is not readily accessible. Extreme weather and dangerous equipment, along with the physical demands of the job, are factors that increase the risk for injuries or death.

Flight Engineers and Pilots

These workers must work long hours on irregular schedules. The fatigue can reduce their reaction time and lead to a disastrous accident.

Roofers

Since roofers must work on elevated areas, their risk for falls is one of the highest in all industries. They are also more prone to slips and trips than the average worker. Roofers also often work in high temperatures, which can lead to overheating and dehydration. The tough physical demands of the job cause many injuries.

Iron and Steel Construction Workers

These workers must perform at high elevations, putting them at risk for fatal falls. They can also be struck by heavy objects like beams or equipment, which can cause serious injury or death.

Truck Drivers

Truck drivers experience a high risk of vehicle accidents, which can result in injury or death. Many of these workers also put in long hours, which can cause exhaustion that leads to accidents.

Agricultural Workers

Agricultural workers have an increased risk of falls, slips, and trips, which can result in injury or death. Since they often work with heavy equipment or large vehicles, they also have an elevated risk of harm from those things. Finally, they have a higher risk of being struck by objects.

Construction Workers

Like roofers, construction workers often work on high levels, and falls are a constant risk. Heavy equipment and inherently dangerous tools like nail guns or saws present a high risk of injury or death. Construction workers often experience injury to their limbs or backs.

Electricians

Since electricians work directly with a power source, they are at a high risk of electrocution injuries. They also have an elevated risk of burns or falls, depending on where they work.

Grounds Maintenance Workers

These workers are required to perform heavy lifting, bending, and carrying large loads. They often work in hot weather, which can lead to heat-related injuries. Working with sharp tools increases the risk of cuts and stabbing injuries, and working with water can cause slip and fall injuries.

Building Maintenance Workers

Anyone who works on or repairs buildings is at an elevated risk for falls, slips, trips, and electrocution injuries. They often must perform a variety of tasks that involve risks to their safety, such as working on heights and being exposed to wiring.

Utility Workers

Those who install and repair power or telecommunication lines work on heights and are at risk for electrocution injuries or death. An injury may require a lengthy recovery period.

Road Construction Workers

Both supervisors and laborers on road construction crews are at a high risk of being struck by a vehicle while working. These accidents can be deadly or can cause long-lasting injuries. Other risks in this field are falls and being struck by objects.

Law Enforcement Officers

These public servants are injured or killed most often by shootings or vehicle accidents. They also experience injuries when handling arrests. Law enforcement officers typically work long hours, and they are more likely to be injured at the end of their shifts when fatigue is a factor.

Material Collectors

Anyone who collects refuse or recycled items works with an elevated risk of slips, trips, and falls. They can also be injured or killed by other vehicles on the roadways.

Obviously, these are not the only jobs that people can get hurt or killed doing. Even though working in an office may seem relatively safe, there are risks all around us, and if our employer does not do their job to keep the area well-maintained, anything can happen.

That being said, if you or someone you love is in any of the above professions, it’s important to be aware of the risks.

About the Author: 

Jeffrey Braxton is a trial lawyer in Fort Lauderdale who has devoted his career to the practice of personal injury law. As lead trial attorney for the South Florida Injury Law Firm, Jeff has litigated thousands of cases and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of attorneys who have resolved cases in excess of one million dollars.

The death of a loved one is traumatic and devastating experience— regardless of the cause. However, the ordeal can be especially upsetting if the death could have been avoided had it not been for the negligent actions of another.

In Florida, surviving family members and loved ones may be able to recover compensation for the damages, pain, and suffering associated with an injured party’s death. Typically, there are two different types of claims you can file after the death of a loved one—wrongful death and survival action.

Though wrongful death and survival action claims are sometimes confused, there are several key distinctions.

Wrongful death claims. A wrongful death claim occurs when a person dies as a direct result of another’s reckless, intentional, or negligent conduct. Since the victim is unable to file a claim against the responsible party, certain family members can file a wrongful death claim for emotional grief and other damages suffered. Under Florida’s wrongful death act, the deceased party’s surviving spouses, parents, or children can recover compensation for damages such as loss of financial or parental support, loss of household assistance, and funeral expenses.

In awarding damages in wrongful death cases, the jury will consider factors such as relationship to the deceased party, the value of the decedent’s probable net income, and the replacement value of the deceased party’s services to the survivor.

Survival action claims. Alternatively, the surviving family may choose to file a survival action claim after the death of an injured party. Effectively, a survival action claim is an extension of an already existing legal claim that was already being sought prior to the injured party’s death. Unlike a wrongful death claim, a survival action claim does not identify the death as the direct result of the injury for which damages are sought.

Instead, a survival action claim seeks to recover damages for the substantial pain and suffering the injured party suffered before their death. Damages for survival claims include compensation that the deceased party would have been able to recover had he or she not died before filing a personal injury claim. This could include loss of income, medical expenses, and overall pain and suffering before the time of death. In order to determine the amount of damages owed, the courts may look to factors such as the severity of pain, the duration of suffering, and the apprehension of impending death.

Let’s take a look at a couple of examples. Imagine Mary was involved in a slip-and-fall accident in a supermarket due to a slippery floor. Mary hit her head in the fall, and died two weeks later due to the traumatic brain injury she suffered as a result of the fall. In this scenario, Mary’s surviving spouse, children, or parents could file a wrongful death claim against the supermarket for the losses they suffered as a result of Mary’s death.

Alternatively, let’s say Mary survived her trip-and-fall accident with a broken hip and some nasty bruises. Mary filed a claim against the supermarket to recover compensation for her medical expenses, lost wages, and overall pain and suffering. However, before the claim was resolved, Mary was struck by a car and killed. In this situation, Mary’s surviving family could pursue a survival action claim against the supermarket to recover the compensation Mary would have been able to recover had she survived.

Typically, Florida courts require you to choose between seeking a wrongful death or survival action claim. Talk to a Florida attorney with experience in wrongful death to determine the best option for your unique situation. With the help of a compassionate and experienced attorney, you can pursue the justice the decedent deserved and the compensation you need.