Indiana Injury Lawyer Blog

We have new information on a Construction Accident in Shelby County, Indiana. Indiana investigators identified the worker who was killed as 51-year old Ronald Rash from Shelbyville. The workplace accident happened Thursday near Morristown, Indiana at CGS Services, Inc. Another worker was hurt in the incident. Worker's Compensation issues could be involved, but there is no word to confirm this at last check.

Rash died from injuries suffered when a structure that was about 20 feet above the ground collapsed at a gravel pit. Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials aren't sure what caused the accident but are looking into it.

The Indiana Department of Labor examines Work Comp instances and work related injuries to better provide safety for Indiana workers. A look at the top 10 most violated standards does includes falls while on the job. In 2010, the 7th most violations involved protection from falls. There were 108 citations. The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires that workers must have fall protection at four feet in general and six feet in construction. And, in 2010, the 10th most violations involved fall protection training for employees that are exposed to potential falls.

Continue reading "UPDATE: INDIANA WORKER KILLED IN CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT IN SHELBY COUNTY" »

An apparent Work Related Accident left two people hurt in Shelby County, Indiana. The incident happened Thursday morning near Morristown, Indiana which is about a half hour from downtown Indianapolis. It is not yet known if Workers Compensation benefits will apply to this accident.

Indianapolis TV stations report emergency responders and investigators say the work related accident might have started as workers were taking apart a building at CGS Services Inc. As the workers were doing this, a gravel pit apparently collapsed.

As mentioned above, it is not yet clear if Workers' Compensation benefits will apply in this instance. Worker's Compensation benefits are defined as those an employee is entitled to if that worker is hurt while in the course and scope of employment i.e. while on the job. Worker's Compensation is often referred to as "Work Comp." Workers Compensation benefits differ from state to state. In Indiana, the laws and codes that pertain to work related injuries are mainly outlined in the Indiana Worker's Compensation Act. The Worker's Compensation Board of Indiana has a website that explains some of benefits an injured worker may receive and some of the rights an injured worker may or may not have. For example, injured workers frequently wonder if their employer can fire them while they are not working because of a workplace injury. The Indiana Worker's Compensation Board explains that an employee can be fired if their injury precludes them from doing their job. However, that employee would most likely be entitled to certain disability payments.

Continue reading "TWO PEOPLE HURT IN APPARENT WORK RELATED ACCIDENT IN SHELBY COUNTY, INDIANA" »

Two men are dead after a Construction Accident in Indiana's Tippecanoe County. The apparent Workers Compensation accident happened Wednesday morning at a radio tower. The construction crew was from ERI, Inc. in southwest Indiana.

As reported by www.wthr.com in the article, "Two Dead in Tippecanoe County Radio Tower Accident," the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department says two of the construction workers who were on the tower were allegedly working more then 300 feet above the ground when a platform they were on collapsed. Workers Paul Aliss and Ernest Garcia, both from Texas, were killed in the apparent work comp accident. Indiana investigators say both construction accident victims did have safety cables on themselves. Officials with the Indiana Occupational Health and Safety Administration are now looking into this deadly construction accident.

According to www.wirelessestimator.com, these men were the second and third tower technicians to die on the job this year. The website, www.wirelessestimator.com, also finds that based on 2004 data from the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers who climb cell towers and other communications structures have the most dangerous job in the United States. That's based on a death rate per 100,000 employees.

Continue reading "TIPPECANOE COUNTY IS SITE OF DEADLY INDIANA CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT" »

A high-risk of injury and other work comp issues are factors Careercast.com examined to determine its list of the Worst Jobs in America in 2011. Most of these jobs can be found right here in Indiana. What's the #1 worst job (in terms of safety, stress, income, etc.)? You might be surprised to learn it's not Construction Worker. Many people do associate that job with serious accidents involving heavy machinery and vehicles, falling objects, and slip and fall accidents from roofs and scaffolding. But Indianapolis construction workers only have the tenth worst job. That's because accidents aren't the only criteria used to determine the worst jobs. The report ranked professions based on 5 elements: Work Environment, Physical Demands, Outlook, Income and Stress.

So Hoosiers, here's that list:

1. Roustabout
2. Ironworker
3. Lumberjack
4. Roofer
5. Taxi driver
6. Emergency Medical Technician
7. Welder
8. Painter
9. Meter Reader
10. Construction Worker

Roustabouts face high-risk of injury, long shifts, hostile environments, low pay and are away from their loved ones for weeks at a time. These factors combined to make Roustabouts the worst job of 2011.

Of course, even if your job isn't considered one of the worst or most injury-prone, you could still be hurt at work. Indianapolis-area work accident lawyers may offer help in the unfortunate case that this happens to you. Be sure to consult with an Indiana work comp attorney before filing a workers' compensation claim to ensure the best outcome.

Continue reading "DO INDIANA WORKERS HAVE ONE OF THE MOST INJURY-PRONE JOBS IN AMERICA?" »

Indiana officials charged with investigating worker safety and work comp issues are looking into the death of an Indiana man. South Bend's Michael Gorzkiewicz was crushed to death Monday by a forklift while working at Steel Warehouse's plant in South Bend. The St. Joseph County deputy coroner says the 47-year old died of blunt force trauma to the chest.

Indiana's Occupational Health and Safety Administration is expected to spent several weeks investigating this fatal employee accident. The forklift has been impounded, according to South Bend police. So far, reports indicate the forklift was parked on an inclined ramp at the plant and began to roll backward. Gorzkiewicz is said to have been between the lift and a truck and was thus, crushed when the lift gave way.

The South Bend victim leaves behind his wife, three children and two stepchildren.

Unfortunately, work-related fatalities happen all too often. According to the Indiana Department of Labor's 2007 work injury and work comp statistics, 92 work-related deaths were reported. And the number of injuries is staggering -- 62,326 Hoosiers filed reports claiming missing at least one or more days of work.

Continue reading "INDIANA WORKER CRUSHED TO DEATH BY FORKLIFT WHILE ON THE JOB IN SOUTH BEND" »

Two employees of a Noblesville company escape serious injury following the collapse of the roof at their Circle City Auto Parts store. The weight of ice and snow cause the collapse and sent emergency crews to the building, located on Herriman Boulevard just after 10:00 am on Friday morning.

Two employees of the company were said to be inside when the roof gave way; however, no injuries were reported as a result of the structural failure.

The City of Noblesville Planning and Engineering Department was being called in to inspect the structure once firefighters secured the property.

Continue reading "FIREFIGHTERS ARE CALLED TO SECURE A NOBLESVILLE INDIANA BUILDING WHEN ROOF COLLAPSES" »