Workers’ compensation benefits for surviving family members

Maryland employees and their employers understand the importance of keeping safety at the forefront while working on the job. Many laws have been put into place to protect not only the workers, but also the companies they work for. When a job-related injury or death occurs, victims and their families are covered under the workers’ compensation program.

An on-the-job death that occurred around noon on a Wednesday has left workers shaken. The construction crew was replacing sewer lines in another state when a man was crushed to death when the operator of an excavator had turned inside the cab to speak with a co worker who was on the ground. When the man inside the excavator turned back around, a piece of his clothing became stuck on a lever. This lever, which controls the bucket on the excavator, then engaged the bucket and pinned the worker, who was in the hole, to the excavated wall.

The 62-year-old male victim was pronounced dead by rescue workers. After speaking with the construction crew who was present at the scene at the time of the incident, police have not found anyone at fault. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration along with police are continuing to investigate.

The workers’ family likely understands the workers’ compensation program is set in place to help workers who are injured while on the job with financial compensation during the period when one is unable to work. The insurance program also provides compensation to the employee’s family in the instance of a work-related death. In the unfortunate case of death, surviving spouses and minor children receive monetary compensation that the loss of income as a result of the loved one’s death has caused. A Maryland attorney can assist the family in filing for the benefits and appealing any denials, if applicable.

Source: nwitimes.com, “A South Haven man is dead after construction zone incident in Hobart“, Lauren Cross, Nov. 2, 2017