A 40-year-old construction foreman had been working on a new H&M clothing store when falling debris knocked the ladder upon which he was standing out from under him. He fell 25 feet and sustained serious injuries but is expected to survive. The construction accident took place at the McClatchy Building in Upper Darby.
The victim was immediately transported to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where he is receiving treatment for a concussion and several serious wounds. According to the Daily Times, the incident will soon be investigated by city officials.
When someone is seriously injured in a workplace accident, he or she may be entitled to receive workers' compensation. Workers' compensation is a form of insurance that seeks to reimburse employees if they are hurt while on the job. The allocation of workers' compensation may not necessarily depend on liability. A worker injured through his or her own negligence is allowed to receive compensation just as if their employer was at fault for the accident. However, in order to receive workers' compensation, an employee must forgo their ability to sue an employer for their damages. For this reason, an individual that seeks to receive workers' compensation needs to consider his or her options carefully. Accepting workers' compensation from an at-fault employer may leave a worker unable to recover the full extent of their damages, particularly if the injuries are long-term.
Workplace injuries can easily devastate someone's life and compromise their family's well-being. Medical treatment and rehabilitative care are expensive propositions, all the more so when the patient's ability to work is interrupted. Depending on the circumstances, an injured worker may be able to receive compensation for their lost wages and income, especially if permanent disability results. In such cases, personal injury attorneys can be hired to represent their client's best interest.
Source: Daily Times, "Construction worker survives fall from Upper Darby's McClatchy Building", TIMOTHY LOGUE, June 28, 2013
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