Workers’ compensation death benefits for Maryland residents

A workplace injury can have serious repercussions on Maryland employees and their families. Medical bills can begin to pile up, and lost wages continue to increase the gap between money coming in and going out. In the most serious situations, some workers can never return to work, and others may lose their lives. The workers’ compensation program can help injured workers and their families lessen the financial gap that sustained workplace injuries can create.

A concrete wall retaining thousands of yards of dirt for a construction project in another state recently collapsed causing the death of one construction worker and injuring another. The man and another employee were walking in front of the wall when it caved, trapping one worker and striking the second. Authorities were called to the scene around 3:49 p.m.

A collapse team arrived shortly after the initial call for help and attempted to rescue the man who was trapped under the dirt, but determined about 35 minutes into searching and finally locating the man that the possibility of a second collapse was highly likely. Medics determined that the trapped man was dead, and the collapse team changed their rescue mission to a recovery effort. They extracted the man’s body around 5:16 p.m. The second employee was transported to a local hospital and treated for broken extremities.

Employees who are injured or fatally wounded while on the job have the protection of the Maryland workers’ compensation program to provide some financial assistance. These benefits can help with the costs associated with an on-the-job injury, which may include medical bills and lost wages. The path to obtaining these benefits is sometimes difficult and intimating, and the skill of a knowledgeable attorney can help injured victims focus on recovery.

Source: poughkeepsiejournal.com, “OSHA investigates fatal collapse at Dutton site“, Abbott Brant, August 4, 2017