Many workplaces have protocols and procedures in place to ensure the safety of their workers. Unfortunately, accidents take place on work sites too often, and individuals can find themselves seriously injured or loved ones can lose a family member. In cases that involve a worker becoming seriously or fatally injured, affected parties may be interested in workers’ compensation benefits.
It was recently reported that an accident in Illinois resulted in the death of a worker. The 19-year-old man was operating a forklift and loading appliances into the back of a truck when the accident occurred. The driver of the truck reportedly thought that the loading was complete and started to drive away. This action caused the forklift to flip backward.
Due to the forklift overturning, the operator hit his head on part of the loading dock. This incident resulted in his suffering a serious injury, to which he unfortunately succumbed. It was noted that the accident took place before 1:30 a.m. and the man died just after 2 a.m. It was not noted whether any other individuals were injured in the accident or whether an investigation into the incident is open.
Fatal accidents that take place on the job are harrowing events. In many cases, such accidents could potentially have been prevented if certain precautions were implemented. Nonetheless, family members of victims must still learn to deal with their loss and other effects of such an event. If interested, the family members of this young man may want to learn more about workers’ compensation benefits to determine whether they could potentially qualify due to the circumstances of this Illinois accident.
Source: fox2now.com, “Forklift driver killed in work accident overnight“, Katie Hynes, July 15, 2015