Archive for August, 2021

30
Aug 2021
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Workers Injured in Massachusetts Construction Accident

a builder or roofer has fallen from the top elevation of scaffold on a construction site and landed on the next level . He is grimacing in pain . The shot is focussed on the area that the roofer had been working .

A recent construction accident in Massachusetts in which three workers fell off a ladder illustrates the danger workers face due to falls from height, which is one of the most common causes of injury and death in the construction industry.

According to WCVB 5 News, the accident occurred at a Norwood apartment complex when three workers fell 25 feet off a ladder while working on the building’s gutters.

One injured worker was airlifted by a medical helicopter to an area hospital, while another was taken by ambulance to Boston Medical Center with serious injuries. The third injured worker was transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

The accident is under investigation by Norwood’s building inspector and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

How common are accidents involving falls from height?

Workers falling from a ladder, a roof, and other high places are among the most common types of construction accidents. Each year, accidents involving people slipping, tripping, or falling result in more than 235,000 injuries and 800 fatalities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

As for construction accidents, falling from a height remains one of the most common causes of injuries for construction workers. In 2019, slip, trip, and fall accidents resulted in 35.9 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 workers among construction workers, according to the BLS. Of those injuries, falling from a height to a lower level (falling off a ladder or a roof, for example) resulted in 19.4 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 construction workers in 2019.

Get a free consultation with a construction accident lawyer

Injury claims involving falls from height and construction accidents often turn out to be complicated legal cases. And if you’re not careful, you could end up paying out of pocket for your medical bills and other losses.

At the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl, our legal team has years of experience helping injured construction workers throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. As a result, we’re familiar with the state and federal rules and regulations that apply to construction accidents and workplace safety. We know how to investigate accidents and negotiate effectively with insurance companies on behalf of injured workers. That’s why we have such a strong track record of success securing sizable settlements and verdicts for injured construction workers.

Discover what we can do for you. Contact our law firm and schedule a free case evaluation with our law firm. We have three office locations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and handle construction accident claims in both states.

30
Aug 2021
By:

PTSD Legal Dispute in R.I. Highlights Challenges Workers Face

PTSD Post Traumatic Stress written on the puzzle.

A recent legal battle involving the city of Pawtucket, R.I., and a city police detective diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) due to his work highlights the challenges workers face in workplace accident cases that involve mental trauma.

The case began when a Pawtucket police detective requested injured-on-duty leave due to mental trauma associated with his work, which frequently involves investigating serious crimes, according to The Boston Globe. The city’s police chief denied the detective’s leave request. In response, the detective filed a grievance with the city.

Four medical experts determined that the police detective was traumatized by his work. As a result, an arbitrator sided with the police detective, saying the city had violated the police union’s collective bargaining agreement by not granting the detective’s leave request due to mental trauma. The arbitrator also ordered the city to grant the detective’s leave request and restore vacation time and sick time used by the detective for mental trauma reasons.

Instead, the city recently announced it was planning to fight the arbitrator’s decision in Superior Court in Pawtucket. The city’s lawyer claims the police detective “exaggerated his experiences” and that mental stress is part of the job.

Understanding PTSD and mental trauma

The legal battle involving the Pawtucket police detective and the city illustrates the misunderstanding of PTSD and mental trauma that’s associated with certain professions. Some people might think that PTSD occurs shortly after a traumatic incident. But in many cases, people diagnosed with PTSD experience mental trauma long after a traumatic event.

Some people who suffer from PTSD experience it due to what’s described as a cumulative effect, according to Professor John Violanti, a retired New York State Police trooper who studies police suicide and PTSD among law enforcement personnel. The more traumatic events a police officer is exposed to, the higher the risk of developing PTSD, Violanti says.

Even so, Violanti says some judges and juries still question claims made by police officers over mental trauma.

“The officer has to prove the experience of the traumatic event was beyond traumatic, the worst that could possibly happen,” Violanti told The Boston Globe.

But Violanti and others insist the effects of PTSD and mental trauma on the job are real. Violanti co-authored two studies about the effects of PTSD on police officers. One study found that police officers with PTSD have higher chronic disease rates than the general public. Another study found that police officers with PTSD have difficulty making decisions, which can affect public safety if the officer is ordered to return to work. An on-duty police officer with PTSD, for example, might have “difficulty in making a decision, which affects not only safety of the public but safety of the officer as well,” Violanti said to The Boston Globe.

How a workplace accident lawyer can help

Workers suffering from PTSD and mental trauma should seek support and treatment for their medical condition, but going down that road alone often means you’ll end up encountering a lot of hurdles. That’s why you need an experienced workplace accident attorney on your side to guide you, every step of the way.

The dedicated legal team at the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl in Providence has years of experience helping workers dealing with complicated legal cases. We thoroughly understand the ever-changing state and federal laws that apply to workplace PTSD and mental trauma. We know which strategies can be the most effective. We also never take anything for granted. We take the time to thoroughly investigate each case and know how to find the evidence needed to build the strongest possible legal case.

Learn more about how our law firm can help you. Contact us and schedule an appointment at one of our three office locations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. We handle workplace injury and workers’ compensation cases in both states.