Archive for the ‘ Workers Compensation ’ Category

0
25
Apr

CDOT Holds Ceremony To Remember Fallen Workers

April 25, 2012

In an effort to reduce the number of on-the-job fatalities among highway workers, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) held a vigil Tuesday to remember the 23 men and women who lost their lives while working on road construction projects over the past year.

According to the Denver Post, this is the eighth year that CDOT has hosted the ceremony that’s being held in conjunction with National Work Zone Awareness Week, which began Monday. One man who lost his father to a drunk driver in a construction zone eight years ago told of how the accident had inspired him to create an organization dedicated to promoting construction zone safety.

Statistics show that 600 people are killed and another 37,000 are injured each year in our country in work zone accidents. That includes the 830 work-zone crashes, which injured 96 people and caused 10 deaths in Colorado last year.

A spokesman for the Colorado State Patrol, Captain Jeff Goodwin, added that most construction zone accidents could be eliminated if drivers simply kept their eyes and minds focused on the road. He added that drivers should, “Just slow down, give highway workers and patrol officers a little bit of buffer so we can do our work.”

The Denver Car Accident Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm would like to remind Colorado’s motorists of the importance of staying vigilant when driving through work zones by slowing down and watching for workers.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Bookmark and Share
0
12
Mar

Colorado-Based Construction Company Fined For Scaffolding Collapse

March 12, 2012

Colorado-based Hensel Phelps Construction Co. was fined $18,000 on Monday by the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (COSHA) for its part in an accident that occurred on September 14, 2011, that injured 11 motorists and two construction workers. Reports from U-T San Diego indicate that the collapse of overloaded scaffolding was to blame for the accident.

The accident occurred at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, a United States-Mexico border site currently undergoing expansion work. Construction workers at the site had loaded demolition debris onto the scaffolding, including large sections of plaster and stucco, causing it to collapse.

COSHA found Hensel responsible for allowing workers to overload the structure and not enforcing safety regulations that limit the amount of weight allowed on scaffolding. One of the company’s subcontractors was given a fine in the same amount for similar charges.

The agency is also blaming a third company, Miller Environmental, for contributing to the accident by alleging that the company failed to properly train workers for their new job assignments, among other faults. Miller was fined a total of $19,120 for three violations.

The Colorado Workers’ Compensation Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm would like to remind Colorado workers that employers have a responsibility to provide employees with a safe work environment. We are here to help you if you have been seriously hurt in an on-the-job accident that was caused by another person’s negligence.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Bookmark and Share
0
5
Mar

Scholarship Deadline Approaching For Colorado Students With Disabled Parents

March 5, 2012

The deadline for a scholarship for Colorado teens whose parent or parents have been hurt in an on-the-job accident is coming up soon. According to an article released by the Windsor Beacon, all applications for The Pinnacol Foundation’s endowment must be received before March 31, 2012.

The scholarships will provide funding for higher education of the student’s choosing, including vocational schooling, college, or graduate studies. While there is no set limit to the amount that students can receive, the Foundation states that the average scholarship awarded is $5,000. The Foundation recently announced that they had given more that $2 million in scholarships since the program began 12 years ago.

To be eligible to receive the scholarship, a student must:

  • be the natural, adopted, step-child, or full dependent of a worker who was killed or seriously injured in a work-related accident while employed with a Colorado-based employer and be entitled to receive benefits under the Colorado Workers’ Compensation Act,
  • be between the ages of 16 and 25 at the time of application,
  • have a high school diploma, GED, or be a high school senior if applying for undergraduate or vocational training,
  • and submit documentation of a parent’s work-related accident.

The Colorado Social Security Disability Attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm understand how stressful putting a child through school can be for a parent who cannot work, and we encourage students who are eligible to apply now!

Popularity: 1% [?]

Bookmark and Share
0
2
Mar

Denver Officer Injured In Accident Caused By Drunk Driver

March 2, 2012

A drunk driver is being blamed for a car accident Monday night that left a Denver Police Officer seriously injured. According to reports from Colorado’s 9 News, the crash happened just after 1:00 AM at the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Tremont Place.

The officer was conducting a routine stop on a vehicle and was standing between the stopped car and her squad car when a red Ford pickup with an intoxicated driver at the wheel slammed into the rear of the police cruiser.

The impact pinned the officer between the two cars before she had time to react. She went in and out of consciousness several times at the scene before paramedics were able to take her by ambulance to Denver Health Medical Center. She remains at the facility in serious condition to recover from a fractured hip, a dislocated femur, and a few other less severe injuries.

The drunk driver attempted to escape from the scene of the accident, but was caught and is now facing charges of vehicular assault, driving under the influence, careless and reckless driving, and no proof of insurance.

The Denver Auto Accident Attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm wish the injured officer a speedy recovery and want to remind accident victims of their rights to compensation if hurt in an auto accident that was caused by drinking and driving.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Bookmark and Share
0
22
Feb

OSHA Fines Construction Company For Death Of Worker In Colorado

February 22, 2012

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined a Minnesota-based construction company $11,675 for violations surrounding the death of a worker this past August near Aspen, Colorado. Reports from the Aspen Daily News say that accident happened at around 3:30 PM while the worker was drilling near the banks of Maroon Creek behind an apartment complex.

The worker was on a platform suspended by a crane. He was wearing a safety device known as a fall-prevention cord since he was on the elevated risers.

The worker and his team had shut the drill down to repair a malfunction and when they turned it on, the victim’s fall-cord became entangled in the spinning machinery. He was pulled into the equipment and spun repeatedly until other workers could reach the emergency shut-off button.  The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

OSHA’s report on the violations the company committed, including a problem with the emergency shut-off button and an anchor point for the fall-cord, say that the infractions relate to a section of law that states, “A place of employment which [is] free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.”

The Colorado Wrongful Death Attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm would like to send their thoughts and condolences to the family of the worker who tragically died because in the accident.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Bookmark and Share
0
20
Feb

Colorado Springs Plumber Killed,Co-Worker Injured In Chain-Reaction Crash

February 20, 2012

A Colorado Springs plumber was killed and his co-worker was injured when they became pinned between two vehicles last Monday. According to reports from The Gazette, the tragic accident occurred before 9:00 AM along Nevada Avenue, north of downtown.

Reports from the Colorado Springs Police Department say that a woman driving a grey Nissan Pathfinder was heading south on the road when a small black pickup truck pulled out in front of her. In order to avoid hitting the truck, the woman swerved right and collided with the rear end of a two parked vehicles. The collision caused the cars to lurch forward and pin two workers who were unloading equipment from a van between the vehicles.

Both workers were freed by rescue personnel and taken to Penrose Hospital. One of the men later died there due to complications. The other worker’s condition is expected to improve after undergoing surgery to repair several shattered bones later today.

Although no citations were issued at the scene of the crash, investigators say that they are still looking into the incident and charges could be filed against a driver at a later time.

The experienced team of Colorado Springs car accident attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm send their condolences to the family of the worker who died in the crash.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Bookmark and Share
0
3
Feb

Snow Shoveling Accidents More Common Than You Think

February 3, 2012

The snow overnight has many in the Denver-area out shoveling their driveways for the first time this year. But many people don’t realize how dangerous shoveling snow can be if proper precautions are not made.

In an article released by Colorado’s 9 News this morning, it was stated that as many as 11,500 trips to the emergency room are to blame for snow removal each year in our country.

A new 17-year study published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Emergency Medicine discusses the most common health hazards associated with snow removal. They found that shoveling snow could sometimes lead to bad backs, broken bones, head injuries, and heart problems.

From 1990 to 2006, researchers examined over 195,000 cases of injuries related to snow removal. They found that the most common form of injuries were sprains and pulls in soft tissue, especially in the lower back. Some resulted more in broken hands, arms, hips, or skull bones. Heart complications were also reported in 7 percent of the cases.

While most of the injuries were adult men, more than 700 of those injured were children under the age of 17.

The Colorado Slip and Fall Injury Lawyers with the McDivitt Law Firm are here to help if you have been injured in a slip and fall accident at no fault of your own. Contact an experienced attorney today for a free initial consultation.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Bookmark and Share
0
2
Sep

Colorado Worker Hurt When Run Over By Garbage Truck

September 2, 2011

A normally quiet cul-de-sac in the Amber Ridge subdivision of Castle Pines, Colorado, was turned upside down and into a scene of panic Thursday morning when a waste management worker was run over by his own truck. 9 News stated that police wanted to reiterate the importance of safety while on the job, especially if your job puts you on the road.

The accident happened on Daniel Gates Drive just after 10:30 in the morning. Authorities with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department noted that the driver was reaching out of the truck to pick up a garbage tote when he fell out of the vehicle and was run over.

Paramedics arrived to the scene and immediately began working to save the truck driver’s life. He was suffering from severe trauma to numerous points of his body and was transported to Swedish Hospital to be treated.

Sgt. Ron Hanavan with the Douglas County Sheriffs Department reminded citizens to always make safety on the road a priority at work by saying, “Safety is always the most important concern for us as well as anybody else. I mean, roadways, in general, have inherent risks and dangers.”

The Colorado Workers’ Compensation Attorneys with McDivitt Law Firm would also like to remind the public to always make safety on the road a priority, especially if you are on the road while working.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Bookmark and Share
0
1
Aug

Colorado Tow Truck Driver Hit and Killed While on the Job

August 1, 2011

A 41-year-old tow truck driver was hit and killed by a vehicle in Arvada, Colorado, while working with authorities to clear an unrelated accident. According to Channel 9 News, the incident occurred just after 1:30 AM on Sunday at the corner of 58th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, as the tow truck driver was loading a vehicle onto his truck.

Police say a Nissan Rogue driven by a 28-year-old from Lakewood, Colorado, struck and killed the tow truck operator. The driver attempted to flee the scene of the accident, but was pulled over and arrested moments later, six blocks away from the crash site. The driver was taken into custody and transported to the Jefferson County Jail. The tow truck driver was transported to a local hospital, where he later died. Officers are investigating whether drugs or alcohol played a part in the accident. The 28-year-old accused in the hit-and-run has a history of arrests, with charges for crimes ranging from Larceny to DUI.

Tow truck drivers regularly work in dangerous environments, often loading disabled vehicles on the side of busy roads. Speeding drivers and cramped road shoulders often contribute to injuries sustained by tow truck drivers while on the job.

The Colorado Wrongful Death and Workers’ Compensation Attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm can help workers or workers’ families who have been injured or killed on the job by settling their cases to receive compensation for the damages incurred. Contact them for a free consultation of your case immediately.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Bookmark and Share
0
27
Jul

Three Colorado Construction Workers Injured in Scaffolding Collapse

July 27, 2011

A scaffolding collapse at a construction site in Fairplay, Colorado has injured three workers and halted work at the construction site, while investigators complete an audit of the accident. The Fairplay Flume reports that the accident occurred Tuesday morning at the site of a new school on Costello Avenue.

The workers were 30 feet up in the scaffolding, applying structural block to the wall. According to the construction company’s spokesperson, Bob Roby, it is believed that the wooden planks supporting the men broke and gave way. Two men crashed to the base of the scaffolding, while another fell into a nearby dirt pile.

While two men suffered severe injuries and were airlifted to St. Anthony Central Hospital, another only suffered moderate injuries and was transported to Swedish Medical Center in Denver, Colorado.

A full investigation is underway by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to determine the cause of the fall, according to Roby. He stated, “Right now the concern is for our employees and working with the authorities.”

Ultimately, the company’s insurer will decide whether or not these men will receive compensation for the injuries they sustained while they were on the job. The Colorado Workers’ Compensation Attorneys with the McDivitt Law Firm have experience handling these types of cases, and may be able to help you or a loved one if either of you have been injured in an accident while on the job.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Bookmark and Share