When we leave for work in the morning, we generally expect our day to be relatively uneventful and that we will return home at the end of the day. Sadly, this is not the reality for those workers in Brooklyn and across the U.S. who are involved in a fatal workplace accident. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics offers some facts on work-related deaths in the U.S. in 2019.
How big is the scope of work-related deaths?
According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, in 2019 5,333 workers in the U.S. lost their lives on the job. This is a 2% uptick from the number of fatal workplace accidents reported in 2018 and the largest increase since 2007. To put it another way, across the U.S. in 2019 a worker died every 99 minutes due to a workplace accident.
What types of events lead to workplace fatalities in 2019?
Transportation incidents were the primary cause of workplace fatalities in the U.S, with 2,122 incidents in 2019. Fatal falls, slips and trips also went up in 2019 to 880 deaths. Exposure to toxic substances killed 642 workers in 2019. Unintentional overdose of drugs or alcohol were another primary cause of workplace deaths in 2019 at 313 fatalities. However, the number of workplace deaths caused by fires and explosions decreased in 2019 to 99 deaths.
What can you do if a loved one was killed in a workplace accident?
If you lose a loved one in a workplace accident, you may be able to pursue death benefits through the workers’ compensation system. Depending on the circumstances you may also be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. It is important to explore all possible avenues of compensation so you can recover the damages you need to make ends meet following the untimely death of loved one as well as hold the responsible party accountable for their actions.