Workers’ Compensation

Fatal Hit-And-Run Freeway Crash Kills Tow-Truck Operator

December 24, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

40-year-old Christopher Barton Tatro was killed in a tragic hit-and-run car collision that occurred on December 17, 2011, around 2 a.m. on 91 Freeway in Riverside. According to California Highway Patrol, Tatro was loading a disabled vehicle onto his flatbed truck on the side of the eastbound lanes of the freeway near Monroe Street when he was hit by a tan sedan, possibly a beige late-1990s Saturn.

The car veered from the number five lane into the left side of the tow truck and then struck Tatro. The collision threw Tatro about 60 feet into traffic lanes. He suffered massive injuries to his legs and torso.

Tatro was immediately transported to Riverside Community Hospital where he was later pronounced dead around 4:20 a.m.

From the available information, it appears that negligent and distracted driving of the sedan driver contributed to this serious multiple vehicle collision. If it is found that the sedan driver was driving inattentively, then he may be held liable for this accident. Also, this sedan driver has committed the felony of hit-and-run, which is a direct violation of California traffic law.

The victim’s family members should immediately seek counsel from an experienced Riverside County truck accident lawyer who would educate them about their legal rights. The victim’s family may file a wrongful death claim against the sedan driver to obtain compensation to cover funeral and burial costs, loss of anticipated earnings, loss of love, care and companionship, and other accident-related damages.
Our personal injury law office sends sincere condolences to the victim’s family and friends.

1 Worker Dead, Another Missing in Texas Sewer Line Work Accident

November 7, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

One man was killed and another is still missing in a fatal work-related accident that occurred around 8 a.m. Thursday, November 3, 2011 in a Collin County suburb in Texas.

According to officials, the two contract workers from North Texas Municipal Water District went down into a 60-inch wastewater collection line to remove a clog. The sewer line was filled with poisonous gas fumes that killed one worker immediately. Neither was wearing respiratory devices.

Rescue crews pulled the worker’s body from the sewer pipe, but a second is still missing. Rescuers believe he was swept down the line, which runs several miles long. Investigations are underway and the crew plans to search various manholes to find the other worker.

Our personal injury office offers our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of the victims.

We understand that this puts a huge emotional and financial burden on the victims’ families. They should immediately consult with a workplace accident attorney to learn about their legal rights and options. They may be able to receive workers’ compensation to cover the medical bills, funeral costs, and loss of love and wages.

Minnesota Work Accident Kills Electrical Worker

November 6, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

58-year-old Bruce Lynn Leibfried died in a Sioux Falls job site accident on November 1, 2011. He was working on a scissor lift at 7 a.m. when the bucket of his crane was lodged between some tubing and a rafter in the ceiling. No one was nearby.

Sioux Falls Fire Rescue and Rural Metro ambulance responded to the call of a work site accident at 8 a.m. and found Leibfried dead at the scene. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is currently investigating the cause of the incident.

Right now, the deceased worker’s family members should consult with a personal injury attorney to learn about their legal rights and options. If the electrical company could have prevented the accident, then the family can sue for compensation by filing a wrongful death claim. The family may also be eligible for Social Security benefits, depending on the situation.

San Diego Border Patrol Agent Shot in Chula Vista Attack

July 29, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

Last Friday, federal investigators were on a mad hunt to find the suspect involved in the shooting of a U.S. Border Patrol agent who was shot in the head in Chula Vista. Unfortunately, the suspect has left only a confusing trail of evidence.

Agent Robert Rosas, a 30-year-old married father of two was killed around 9 p.m. last Thursday when responding alone to a suspected border incursion near Campo, a town in rural, arid terrain in southeastern San Diego County. He was shot in the head and in the body and was dead by the time backup agents arrived, according to Keith Slotter, a special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Diego bureau.

Chula Vista Bicycle Rider Killed While on Nationwide Bike Trek

June 23, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

A memorial service is scheduled on Saturday for a Chula Vista man killed on June 21, 2009, during a cross-country bike tour in order to protest government bailouts. The suspect thought to have killed the biker was a drunk driver in Illinois who left the scene of the car crash and was later arrested.

The fatal bicycle accident of Chula Vista resident Jim Gafney, 65, is mourned by his wife Nancy, three daughters, and a large extended family, who had asked him not to take part in the tour, although he was a seasoned bike rider. Gafney was apparently incredibly determined to make his voice heard on the bailouts, which he worries will affect his future generations in a very negative way, and his family hopes that his mission will not be lost but instead, that his death would help carry on his mission and echo his voice.

Gafney was a former Navy man and retired computer engineer who had worked at Camp Pendleton. He had left Chula Vista for his bike across the country on April 27 and was on U.S. Route 50, about 60 miles east of St Louis when, just before 1 a.m. he was struck from behind by a 1997 Nissan Altima being driven by a 27-year-old man suspected to be drunk, according to Illinois State Police. The driver was arrested shortly thereafter by an officer for speeding when they noticed the damage to his car. He told state troopers that he had been driving over a hill and saw Gafney but was not able to stop or avoid hitting him, according to Master Sgt. Chris Trame. Trame notes that the road on which the Chula Vista biker died was just a two-lane roadway with no shoulder, an area that was very isolated and not well lit. The driver is facing charges that include aggravated driving under the influence and leaving the scene of the accident.

Bicyclist Killed in San Diego Bike Accident

June 23, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

A 22-year-old man was killed late on the night of June 19, 2009, while riding his bicycle in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego. The county’s Medical Examiner’s Office identified 22-year-old Jonathon R. Ramirez as the victim in this tragic San Diego fatal bike accident.

After being hit, Ramirez was rushed to a hospital where he died from head and neck injuries on Saturday morning, as reported by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

San Diego Workers Compensation Attorney

June 1, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

If you are a San Diego resident that has been injured on the job, you deserve to get full coverage of your medical costs and lost wages, right? WRONG. Recent changes in the California Workers Compensation Act now limit the scope and depth of your benefits.

Though the act protects workers and guarantees them compensation without having to go through the time-consuming and costly court system, many injured victims will still have to battle it out with their employers and workers compensation insurers. It is best to have an experienced and capable San Diego workers compensation attorney by your side to handle this dispute and get the money you need and deserve. Contact us for a free consultation.

Explosion Rattles San Diego Construction Site; Injures 14

May 27, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

On Tuesday, the windows of our office rattled. It wasn’t an earthquake, but it seemed like it was from an explosion. Only later on that afternoon did we discover that an explosion had occurred at the nearby Downtown San Diego Hilton, injuring 14.

Original thoughts turned to whether the incident was a terrorist attack. Then to whether a boiler in the hotel had exploded. Now it appears that the accident was caused by a natural gas leak inside the hotel.

Of the 14 injured, three were critically injured and were placed into medically induced comas. These workers sustained burns from 20-35 percent of their bodies, including some areas of third-degree burns. They were taken to the UCSD Medical Center burn unit for treatment.

Construction accidents can lead to catastrophic injuries, leading either to permanent injuries or death. In those cases, an injured worker or his family needs an experienced group of lawyers to navigate through the Workers’ Compensation and Civil systems in order to maximize the recovery that will provide for that worker and his family for the remainder of his life.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a construction accident, please contact us for a free consultation.

Injured San Diego Workers May Receive Greater Disability Payments

May 26, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

In 2004, in the face of ever increasing insurance premiums, the California passed extensive Workers’ Compensation reform. One of the targets of the reforms was to reduce permanent disability payments to workers who had been permanently injured at work.

The result of the reforms was that disability payments to injured workers were slashed by at least 50%, insurance premiums for employers dropped dramatically, and the insurance carriers reported their highest profits in 30 years. The losers were clearly injured employees.

Now, after vetoing proposed permanent disability payment increases the last 2 years, Governor Schwarzenegger now appears willing to increase benefits to injured workers by at least 16%.

Increased benefits are definitely needed. According to the political action group, Voters Injured at Work, Californians are being shortchanged:

According to one group, Voters Injured at Work, people who lose a foot get $28,820, compared with the national average of $80,976. A lost eye fetches $17,714 versus $74,558. And deafness in one ear is worth $5,280, 83% below the national average.

Honestly, an increase of 16% is a good start, but it is not enough. The 2004 Reforms–and some reform was needed to reign in premium costs–went too far and left injured workers without a way to be compensated for life-changing injuries. Remember, the Workers’ Compensation system exists because more than a century ago, the states took away the right of injured workers to sue their employers and coworkers in civil court for workplace injuries.

If the Workers’ Compensation system doesn’t provide adequate compensation, injured workers are left without any recourse and assistance.

The Most Dangerous Lines of Work in San Diego

March 30, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

With years spent representing San Diego residents injured both on and off work, We understand the dangers present in all manner of workplaces and also that some lines of work feature more hazards than others. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there was an average of 118 injuries per 10,000 full-time workers in 2010. While injuries range from minor trauma that is quickly recovered from to fatality-causing injuries, every worker is in danger of suffering some form of injury during his or her career. But what jobs have a greater likelihood of injuring employees?

To stay as safe as possible, San Diego workers must understand the dangers of the professions they work in or are considering joining. Some of the most dangerous jobs commonly found in and around the San Diego area include:

  • Fishing Work: High injury and fatality rate due to harsh weather conditions and heavy equipment that can cause serious injuries during an accident.
  • Truck Driving: Long driving hours and grueling schedules put drivers at a higher likelihood of a crash, which is often much more devastating than a normal car accident.
  • Industrial Repair: Working with malfunctioning heavy equipment can cause unexpected accidents affecting repair workers attempting to fix the machine.
  • Construction: Unfinished structures, heavy machinery, dangerous equipment, large motor vehicles, and high work zones can easily cause an accident that is severe in nature.
  • Electrical Installation/Repair: Working with electrical equipment can electrocute a worker during an accident, equipment malfunction, or co-worker mistake.

Work injuries are common, but thankfully workers’ compensation can help an injury victim recover from their trauma and not suffer the financial consequences of being unable to work. Unfortunately, compensation is often denied for valid claims. San Diego workers’ compensation attorney can aid you in your search for proper injury compensation. For a free consultation on your case, contact us.