Earlier this month, a Maryland traffic accident involving a garbage truck sent two workers to the hospital. According to a recent news report, the collision occurred during a regular trash pick-up, when the driver of the truck moved over in an attempt to let oncoming traffic pass. At the time, two workers were holding onto the back of the truck, collecting trash in a residential neighborhood.
Evidently, as the truck moved to the side of the road, one of the truck’s tires slipped off the road, causing the truck to glance a utility pole. After the initial collision, the worker riding on the passenger side of the truck slammed into the pole. The other worker also fell from the truck. When police arrived, they found both men seriously injured. One worker was flown by helicopter to a nearby hospital, and admitted with life-threatening injuries. The other worker was taken to the hospital by ambulance, and is expected to recover from their injuries.
Law enforcement believes that the cause of the accident was driver error because the truck failed to remain in its lane of travel. A police investigation is underway; however, speed is not believed to be a factor, and drugs or alcohol are not thought to be involved in the crash.
Recovering after a Workplace Accident
Many Maryland employees face a variety of occupational hazards every day. Workplace injuries take a physical and financial their toll on employees, frequently requiring they undergo expensive medical treatment and miss valuable time at work. These accidents can leave employees in a bad place financially.
Injured workers may have several ways of obtaining compensation for their injuries, most notably either through a Maryland workers’ compensation claim or a Maryland personal injury lawsuit. Injured workers are typically able to get benefits through a workers’ compensation claim more quickly, however, the type of damages that are available in these claims are limited. Importantly, Maryland personal injury claims allow injured workers to pursue compensation for their emotional pain and suffering. However, not all injured workers can pursue a personal injury case.
Generally, a Maryland workers’ compensation claim is an injured employee’s sole remedy against their employer, as long as the employer participates in the state’s worker’s compensation program. This precludes many injured employees from pursuing personal injury cases against their employers. However, employees may still attempt to hold third parties liable through a personal injury case. In some cases involving an employer’s willful, intentional, or malicious conduct, an employee may be able to pursue a personal injury case against an employer.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Workplace Accident?
Determining whether to pursue a Maryland personal injury case or file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits is not always an easy decision. The skilled Maryland injury lawyers at Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC have over 20 years of experience assisting their clients with this potentially complex decision, as well as the many other decisions that must be made following a workplace accident. At Lebowitz & Mzhen, we handle all types of injury claims, including common workplace accidents such as Maryland slip-and-fall claims. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with an attorney to discuss your case, call 410-654-3600 today.