Although the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 states that American workers are entitled to “safe and healthful” occupational conditions, the workplace is a dangerous and all-too-often deadly environment for many.
According to recent reports by MSNBC and the Center for Public Integrity, 4,551 employees were killed on the job in 2009. That figure is more than the total number of U.S. troops killed in the nine-year Iraq war. An additional 50,000 people are estimated to die of work-related diseases each year.
These deaths are often preventable and are frequently the result of an emphasis on speed over safety, unsafe working conditions or acts of negligence. Despite federal and state regulations intended to protect workers and penalize employers when wrongful death occurs in the workplace, the average fine for a worker death is approximately $7,900, according to a Center for Public Integrity article on May 21, 2012.
While workers’ compensation is established to help those injured on the job pay for medical and cost-of-living expenses, workers’ compensation benefits rarely provide sufficient compensation for injury-related costs. If you were injured on the job, one of the most important steps you can take is to contact Chattanooga, Tennessee, workers’ compensation attorney Herbert Thornbury for a free consultation.
Mr. Thornbury can help you maximize your workers’ compensation benefits or seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. The best legal option for you will depend on the circumstances of your injury.
If you suffered an injury in the workplace or a family member died as a result of an on-the-job accident, please contact Herbert Thornbury for your free workers’ compensation claim consultation. Workers’ compensation attorney Herbert Thornbury is dedicated to helping injured workers and their families from the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area.
