A forklift accident at the construction site of a Microtel Inn & Suites in Rochester left a 30-year-old male worker dead. He is survived by his wife and four children. Friends of the victim have created a website to raise funds for the family.
Rochester police reported that a large piece of equipment held up by a telescopic forklift fell and struck the construction worker. Co-workers removed the object from the victim and tried to help him with CPR until the ambulance arrived.
An autopsy at Mayo Clinic was pending at the time of the report, but the cause of death appeared to be head trauma, according to a Rochester police lieutenant. An investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was also planned. A spokesperson from the company developing the land said its insurance company will be investigating the accident as well.
When fatal accidents on the job take away a loved one, the surviving family members are entitled to benefits from the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Filing a claim for benefits requires precise paperwork, and insurance companies are known to be slow to pay or attempt to deny benefits. Sometimes, a survivor turns to a lawyer for advice. A lawyer could look at the details of the accident and explain to a survivor the types of compensation they have a right to claim. If an insurance settlement offer appears inadequate, a lawyer might be able to negotiate for a proper settlement. A survivor usually seeks damages for lost income and funeral expenses.
Source: KTTC, “Man killed by falling object at Rochester construction site,” Toryn Hill, March 1, 2015
