A 57-year-old tractor-trailer driver died recently after he was unexpectedly pinned between the door of his truck and a post in Bensenville. The man was reportedly performing a pre-work safety check on the semi he was assigned to drive while in a loading area at Vitran Express when he became pinned. According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Suburban Worth man was pronounced dead at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village as a result of the injuries he sustained in the workplace accident.
The exact cause of the tragic accident is currently under investigation by officials from the nation’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). A spokesperson for OSHA, Scott Allen, stated it is too early to tell what caused the worker’s unfortunate death. He added that the agency is currently attempting to ascertain whether the decedent’s employer failed to follow any federal safety regulations in connection with the incident.
Serious workplace accidents are generally investigated by OSHA. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 created the agency in an effort to decrease serious worker injuries and death. The Act requires all employers to comply with a number of safety-related requirements and to provide employees with safety training. In addition, employers must furnish a working environment that is reasonably free of safety hazards. When an employer fails to adhere to the requirements of the Act, OSHA may issue various levels of violations. An employer who places workers at risk may also incur fines and be required to remediate any safety hazards discovered by the agency.
While most workplace accidents in Illinois are subject to state Workers’ Compensation laws, a worker who is hurt or killed due to the actions of a third party such as a big rig manufacturer may be entitled to additional compensation. Additionally, an employee who was hurt in an accident at an Illinois workplace is authorized to receive the costs associated with any required medical treatment, disability pay, and compensation for any injury that resulted. If you were hurt in an accident at work, you should contact a skilled personal injury lawyer to discuss your options for recovery.
If you were hurt or a loved one was killed in a workplace accident, give the experienced attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. a call today at (312) 475-9596. Our hardworking Chicago area personal injury lawyers are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to answer your questions and help you file your case. Our capable attorneys are ready and willing to help you receive the compensation you deserve following an accident at work. For a free consultation with an experienced attorney, please do not hesitate to contact Abels & Annes, P.C. through the law firm’s website.
More Blogs:
Veteran Files Lawsuit After Nearly Losing His Foot in Forklift Accident at Chicago’s McCormick Place, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, January 9, 2013
New Laws Designed to Protect Illinois Children From Sex Offenders Go Into Effect in 2013, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, January 6, 2013
Additional Resources:
Truck driver dies after workplace accident in Bensenville, Chicago Tribune
Driver killed at Bensenville facility, by Sara Hooker, Daily Herald