Massachusetts Workers' Compensation Lawyer Blog
The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released statistics from workplace fatalities in 2009. According to the report, fatal occupational injuries fell from 5,314 to 4,340 in 2009. This is the lowest number of workplace fatalities since the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries program began in 1992.
The decline was even more dramatic in the construction industry, where deaths fell by 16% in 2009. However, other industries reported a rise in fatal injuries, including a 3% increase in the wholesale trade industry and a 6% increase in building and grounds cleaning and maintenance.
Authorities said the overall decrease may be due to economy, which caused total work hours to fall by 6% and slowed down the construction industry, which has usually accounted for many of the fatal accidents or illnesses included in the statistics.
Here in Massachusetts, cases of wrongful death may entitle the immediate family members to compensation for the loss of the reasonably expected net income, companionship, and other losses.
Source: Experts cautiously optimistic about latest workplace fatalities report, Risk & Insurance, October 7, 2010
Contact the Massachusetts wrongful death attorneys at Altman & Altman for a free initial case evaluation.
