Construction is dangerous work. Those who earn their living by performing duties in this field are often exposed to numerous hazards, including extreme heights and heavy machinery, which can cause a serious work-related injury or death. Those who are injured on the job, or a family who loses a loved on to a workplace accident, can be left with severe physical, emotional and financial harm.
Unfortunately, one Massachusetts family may have to deal with these deep wounds after a construction worker died from injuries he suffered on the job. The 54-year-old worker had been working on the Framingham State University campus, helping to construct a multi-story addition to one of the University’s buildings. Reports indicate the victim was cutting stanchions in a stairwell before he fell 20 feet. He was taken to the hospital, but he later succumbed to his injuries. The cause of the accident is unclear at this time, but many agencies, including OSHA, are investigating.
Often when a family loses a loved one to a workplace accident they are left in a difficult emotional and financial place. Spouses may have to find a way forward without the love and support of their husband or wife and children might have difficulty growing up without the guidance and care of a mother or father. In addition, if the deceased was a primary wage-earner, then the family may be deprived of the money it needs to meet its financial obligations.
Fortunately, the workers’ compensation system provides survivor benefits to families of those who are killed while performing their job duties. This compensation might help cover medical expenses and lost wages, which can help a family focus on moving on in life in remembrance of their loved one. However, the workers’ compensation system can be fraught with legal complexities. Therefore, it may be in a surviving family’s best interests to speak with a Massachusetts attorney about how to proceed with their claim.
Source: The Milford Daily News, “Worker injured in fall at FSU dies,” Steve O’Connell, July 24, 2014
