OSHA Violations & Work Accident Lawsuits

Do You Have A Claim? Call Us To Find Out

Successful Results For Our Clients

Six Figure Recovery

Against an all girls religious high school for negligent supervision of a teacher who engaged in sexual conduct with a student on school property

$4 Million

Construction worker suffered serious brain injury after falling 20 feet due to lack of required fall protection

$3 Million

Against a University for Child Sexual Abuse

$750,000

Against a psychiatric hospital for their failure to prevent a woman in their care from being sexually assaulted.

$2 Million

Against a religious organization because of their negligent supervision of a pedophile priest who sexually abused a child

$7.5 Million

Against a correctional facility for negligently supervising a guard that physically and sexually abused an inmate in their care

$1 Million

Against child protective services for their failures in preventing the sexual abuse of a child within their care and custody

Six Figure Recovery

Defective punch press machinery work accident case.

$2.75 Million

Dock worker run over by a forklift at a cruise ship terminal causing catastrophic injuries

$925,000

Nail gun defect case that cause permanent injuries to a worker

$1 Million

Nail gun accident where nail gun discharged sideways resulting in a nail hitting user’s eye

$1 Million

DUI accident, bar alcohol liability & medical malpractice case in Philadelphia (January 2014)

$3 Million

Surgical infection, medical malpractice case in Philadelphia

$350,000

Drugstore sidewalk fall accident, hip fracture with surgery, filed in Philadelphia

$1 Million

A union carpenter fell through an interior mobile scaffold while at work, suffering bilateral calcaneal fractures

$4 Million

A construction worker fell 20 feet because he was not provided with fall protection

$8.5 Million

A construction accident involving a union roofer who was working without fall protection and fell from a roof resulting in a permanent paraplegic injury

$1 Million

On the job injury to a union carpenter who fell through an interior mobile scaffold, suffering bilateral calcaneal fractures

$8.5 million

A construction accident on the job involving a union roofer who was working without fall protection and fell from a roof resulting in permanent paraplegic injury

$1 Million

Factory supervisor’s hand was crushed at work due to faulty equipment/machine.

$1.5 million

Worker sustained severe burn injuries as a result of an electrical explosion.

$2 Million

Chemical exposure causing burn and inhalation injuries to three union carpenters.

$13 Million

Work accident resulting in an above the knee amputation of the worker’s leg

$13 Million

Philadelphia Kimmel Center construction collapse causing catastrophic injuries

$101 Million

Parking garage collapse at an Atlantic City, New Jersey hotel, killing 4 and injuring 30 (largest construction accident settlement in U.S. history)

$1.8 Million

Stadium demolition accident which occurred when a front loader fell through a ceiling (Philadelphia, PA)

$2.8 Million

Forklift accident at marine terminal in New Jersey

$13 Million

Crane accident resulting in leg amputation and other injuries during casino construction (Philadelphia, PA)

Confidential Multi-Million Dollar Recovery

Construction worker killed when he came into contact with an uncapped, live electrical wire

$1.5 million

Injuries incurred in a workplace accident where plaintiff sustained severe burn injuries as a result of an electrical explosion

$2.5 million

The electrocution death of a union electrician on the job, when electrical switch gear malfunctioned

Seven Figure Recovery

Wrongful death of a union carpenter who died on the job after falling through temporary decking at a local bridge

$1.5 million

Wrongful death of a tow truck driver who died on the job when he was accidentally run over by his own tow truck

$2.5 million

Wrongful death by electrocution of a union electrician on the job, when electrical switchgear malfunctioned

Six Figure Recovery

Slip and fall at an airport

Six Figure Recovery

Fatal shooting of a tenant at an apartment complex

Six Figure Recovery

A woman violently attacked by bar security personnel without provocation

Six Figure Recovery

A horrific incident where a woman was killed after her apartment complex was demolished while she remained in the building

$2.75 million

Slip and fall case where client suffered serious personal injuries from a fall

$1 million

A car accident resulting in serious personal injuries to the plaintiff

$2 million

A tragic case where a man suffered serious permanent injuries when a tree fell onto his car while he was driving along a public road in Bucks County, Pennsylvania

$4.4 million

A car crash where the motor vehicle accident resulted in two passengers being killed and another injured, after a restaurant served too much alcohol to the driver of their vehicle

$1 million

The on the job injury to a union carpenter who fell through an interior mobile scaffold while at work, suffering bilateral calcaneal fractures

$1 million

Injuries on the job incurred by a factory supervisor when his hand was crushed at work due to faulty equipment

$1.5 million

Injuries incurred in a workplace accident on the job where plaintiff sustained severe burn injuries as a result of an electrical explosion

$2 million

An inadvertent release of dangerous chemicals at a local oil company, causing on the job burn and inhalation injuries to three union carpenters

$4 million

Construction worker suffered serious brain injury after falling 20 feet due to lack of required fall protection

$5 million

A construction accident on the job where union laborer was killed while working on the fourth floor of a building because there was no fall protection

Six Figure Recovery

Against an all girls religious high school for negligent supervision of a teacher who engaged in sexual conduct with a student on school property

Six Figure Recovery

Student sexually harassed and assaulted by high school teacher

Six Figure Recovery

Molestation case against sitting state court judge who admitted to the abuse, resigned from the bench and was then disbarred

Six Figure Recovery

negligent care of elderly man resulting in hip fractures after fall from hospital bed

Six Figure Recovery

negligent transection of common hepatic duct during surgery

Six figure Recovery

71 year old man died due to an undiagnosed e-coli infection

Six Figure Recovery

Man died following improper diagnosis and treatment of endocarditis

$8.5 million

A construction accident on the job involving union roofer who was working without fall protection and fell from a roof resulting in permanent paraplegic injury

$12 million

A construction accident on the job involving union roofer who fell from a roof because there was no fall protection and suffered quadriplegia

Six-figure settlement

Nail gun accident where nail gun discharged sideways resulting in a nail hitting user’s eye

Six-figure settlement

Defective punch press machinery work accident case.

Six figure recovery

$325,000 settlement

$478,650 settlement

For a 67-year-old New Jersey man who suffered serious injury in a motor vehicle accident on the Atlantic City Expressway

$480,320 settlement

$900,000 jury verdict

$1.9 Million

For a child who was sexually abused by a clergy member

$2,525,000

$7,500,000

Union carpenter sustained serious shoulder injuries when he fell after stepping on another contractor’s debris (March 2015)

$9,900,000

$12,500,000

74 Million Dollar Settlement

Against a Christian Board School and other defendants that allowed horrific acts of sexual and physical violence against the young children in their care.

Seven Figure Recovery

The on the job injury to a union carpenter who fell through an interior mobile scaffold while at work, suffering bilateral calcaneal fractures

Seven Figure Recovery

Wrongful death by electrocution of a union electrician on the job, when electrical switchgear malfunctioned

Seven Figure Recovery

Man who was killed when his car fell off of a 3 floor parking garage due to defective vehicle barrier protection system

$15 million

$101 million

The collapse of a parking garage at the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City that injured over 30 construction workers on the job and killed 4 men working on the project (largest construction accident settlement in U.S. history).

$1.1 million

Against a fraternity for negligently serving alcohol which resulted in a stabbing assault of two frat party attendees

$2.5 million

A workplace accident on the job resulting in below-the-knee amputation of the plaintiff’s right leg

$2.5 million

An on the job injury where an union carpenter fell on a construction site and was injured because of defective fall protection equipment

$9 million

A car crash resulting in a passenger suffering permanent quadriplegic injuries

OSHA Violations – A Major Cause Of
Work Accidents & Injuries

What is OSHA?

Workplace safety is a serious issue among major industries in the U.S. including the construction industry, manufacturing industry, trucking industry, etc. Dangerous conditions often lead to work accidents and injuries, the vast majority of which are 100% preventable.The federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration was founded nearly 50 years ago in 1971 and is responsible for establishing and enforcing workplace safety standards. In addition, OSHA is tasked with investigating reports of OSHA violations, workplace fatalities and serious workplace injuries.

Over the years, OSHA has established and amended various standards to improve workplace safety across industries. The vast majority of employers in the U.S. come under OSHA jurisdiction. However, OSHA does not apply to government workers and workers in certain industries like the mining industry.

Related Case Result: $101 million – The collapse of a parking garage at the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City that injured over 30 construction workers on the job and killed 4 men working on the project (largest construction accident settlement in U.S. history).

OSHA Violation Definitions

Serious: A workplace hazard could cause an accident or illness that would most likely result in death or serious physical harm, unless the employer did not know or could not have known of the violation.
Willful: The employer either knowingly failed to comply with a legal requirement (purposeful disregard) or acted with plain indifference to employee safety.
Repeat: The employer has been cited previously for the same or a substantially similar condition and, for a serious violation, OSHA’s inspection history for the employer lists a previous OSHA notice issued within the previous five years.

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What Happened?

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State

Date of incident

OSHA Violations &
Work Accidents/Injuries

Each year, roughly 4,000 workers are killed in on the job accidents. Fortunately, the number of work accident deaths has been steadily decreasing from year to year. In 2013, just over 4,400 workers died in work related accidents, and in 2012, there were roughly 4,600 deaths.

Hands down, the construction industry accounts for the highest percentage of work accident deaths in the U.S. This is due to the inherent dangers of construction, both residential and commercial. Among the various industries, roughly 20% of the total number of annual work related fatalities occur in the construction industry. In 2013, there were just under 800 deaths in the construction industry, and in 2012, there were a little over 800 deaths. Many construction related deaths occur in the specialty trades such as foundation work, roofing, etc.

More: Workplace Accidents in Pennsylvania & New Jersey – Violation of OSHA Regulations

Work Accidents/Injuries – Legal Rights &
Financial Compensation

Workers who are injured while on the job have legal rights to compensation. There are two sources of compensation: workers’ compensation and negligence lawsuits. While workers’ compensation usually provides for medical treatment and a portion of lost pay, negligence lawsuits can result in compensation for pain and suffering, as well as compensation for medical bills and lost wages.

Many workers are simply unaware of their legal rights to file negligence lawsuits. Many believe their only legal recourse is filing for workers’ comp. Time and time again, an injured worker and their family seek the advice of a work accident and injury lawyer when it is too late; the applicable statute has expired. That’s why it’s important to seek advice from a work accident injury lawyer as soon as possible after a serious work accident occurs.

OSHA Inspection Data (2014-2016)

	2014	2015	2016
Total Violations	67,941	64,763	58,702
Serious Violations	49,616	47,934	42,984
Willful Violations	439	527	524
Repeat Violations	2,966	3,088	3,146
Other Violations	14,503	13,016	11,895

Financial Compensation for
Work Injuries

Injured workers can receive fair and reasonable financial compensation for their injuries in a tort or negligence lawsuit. These types of lawsuits are commonly referred to as “third party” lawsuits or claims. The third party refers to an individual or entity which committed some act of negligence that led to the accident. Claims for financial compensation include medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.

In states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey, when injured workers file negligence lawsuits, they can make claims for what was already paid out by the employer/workers’ compensation insurance carrier.

For example, a roofer injured at a worksite in Pennsylvania makes a claim for workers’ compensation benefits and receives a total of $10,000 of benefits between medical treatment and lost pay.

The injured roofer can also file a negligence lawsuit and recover the $10,000 that was paid out by workers’ comp in addition to compensation for pain and suffering. Then, the injured worker would be required to reimburse the workers’ comp carrier/employer for at least a portion of the $10,000. This is known as a workers’ compensation subrogation claim. Laws relating to workers’ compensation subrogation vary from state to state.

Visit our Work Accident & Injury Law Library for more information.

If you were injured due to an OSHA violation, call our work accident and injury lawyers immediately to explore your legal options. Our lawyers are available for a free, no obligation legal consultation, and can obtain special admission in other states, such as New York or Delaware, on a case by case basis.

OSHA violations are a leading cause of workplace injury and death. Our attorneys know the regulations. We understand the rules that employers are required to follow. There’s nothing more important than keeping workers safe on the job.

Jeffrey Laffey, Esq.