Malfunctioning Elevator Takes Life of Restaurant Employee
A tragic accident at a New Jersey restaurant has resulted in the death of an employee. The worker was killed while loading the restaurant’s freight elevator.
The accident occurred at a Lakehurst restaurant called Three B’s Bar and Bistro on Sunday, August 28th. The victim was helping to unload a delivery of food at around 11:45 that morning, using the restaurant’s small freight elevator to move the food to the restaurant’s basement. Police Chief Eric Higgins reports that, as the victim had one foot on the ground and one in the elevator, the elevator malfunctioned, bringing a bar on the top of the elevator down onto the victim. While a fellow employee attempted to perform CPR, the accident victim failed to regain consciousness. The 34-year-old man was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, where he was pronounced dead. Police Chief Higgins reports that there is no indication of foul play, and that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into the accident.
When you or someone you love is hurt on the job in New Jersey, it is likely that those injuries will be covered by Workers’ Compensation insurance carried by the employer. These benefits provide payment to cover any medical expenses caused by on-the-job accidents, as well as temporary compensation for time spent off work as a result of the accident. In incidents such as this, where a worker is killed on the job and can never again provide for their family, Workers’ Compensation provides a death benefit to that employee’s spouse and children. However, that amount is only 70% of what the individual earned at the time of their death, which simply may not be enough to support a family.
In cases of serious workplace injury, the employer alone may not be the only party responsible for the employer’s injuries. If an equipment manufacturer or independent contractor acted negligently in some way that caused the worker’s fatal injuries, then there may be a basis to file a third party claim against that individual or company. Using the current case as an example, if the elevator malfunction was a result of poor repair work done by a maintenance company, or from a negligent design by the elevator’s manufacturers, then the victim’s surviving relatives may be able to file a claim against these companies for the wrongful death of their loved one.
If you or someone you love has been hurt on the job in New Jersey, seek experienced and compassionate legal help to pursue your claim for compensation by contacting the Wayne workplace injury lawyers at Massood Law Group, LLC for a consultation, at 973-696-1900.
