West Virginia’s economy is driven by industrial workers. Unfortunately, many industrial employers do not provide proper health and safety standards. This can result in serious workplace accidents and injuries. In fact, West Virginia’s mining, oil and gas extraction and quarrying sector has the largest number of fatalities compared to other job sectors in the state. If you or a loved one is a West Virginia industrial worker, consider the following important points:

Types of industrial accidents

Despite numerous federal laws and state laws concerning safe and healthy working environments, industrial accidents take place on a regular basis. There are many types of industrial accidents that occur at the workplace. Some may result in minor injuries, while others can be fatal. Some industrial accidents involve:

• Mine or gas explosions
• Defective or malfunctioning equipment
• Conveyer belt injuries
• Failure to warn of dangerous or unsafe conditions
• Occupational injuries, such as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP)

Potentially liable parties

Injured workers may not always be able to sue their direct employers because of workers’ compensation laws, but there may be other at-fault or otherwise liable parties, including subcontractors on the job site, the property owner or the manufacturer of a product that contributed to the accident.

Possible damages recoverable in a lawsuit

After an industrial accident, damages available to the injured worker and the worker’s family may include compensation for health and medical costs, rehabilitation, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In the most tragic cases, compensation for wrongful death may be available.

Following an industrial accident, it’s important to contact an experienced workplace accident attorney as soon as possible. The experienced industrial accident attorneys at Calwell Luce diTrapano PLLC have decades of experience helping injured workers obtain compensation. Call our office today to schedule a consultation to discuss your case.