Tragically, yet another employee was killed this week at a Benton Harbor, Michigan construction site. The injury victim was part of a crew assigned to demolish a downtown building. Reportedly, the worker was ascending a ladder when a support beam collapsed and caused serious injuries.
The family members of workers injured or killed on the work site often suffer a second tragedy when they learn of the paltry benefits due through workers compensation insurance. The average person simply assumes that those benefits are the only remedy for work place injuries, and takes his lumps.
That assumption, however, is a myth.
What the insurance companies don't want the public to know is that, if the incident was caused by a company or person independent of the victim's employer - traditional, unlimited "negligence" benefits may be available. Under those facts, a seriously injured worker may be entitled to millions of dollars in compensation.
WSJM AM Radio Benton Harbor, September 24, 2010
