Workplace Injuries and Occupational Diseases

Charleston attorneys advocating for workers’ safety and health

Residents of Appalachia hold some of the most dangerous jobs in the country. Every year, workers in the timber, mining and construction industries, among numerous others, are killed or seriously injured in on-the-job accidents or are diagnosed with occupational diseases such as asbestosis, asbestos lung cancer, or mesothelioma.  Often, these preventable accidents result from employers or coworkers taking illegal shortcuts in violation of federal regulations and state laws. Other times, accidents occur because of defective job equipment and machinery. Usually, negligent corporations are reluctant to admit wrongdoing and family members are kept in the dark regarding why and how their loved ones were killed or injured.

Calwell Luce diTrapano PLLC has over two centuries of combined experience helping injured victims and their families throughout West Virginia recover compensation from those who harmed them. Our lawyers do more than recover damages — we also penetrate the corporate silence so you get the answers you deserve.

Protecting workers in dangerous professions

Our personal injury lawyers accept the most challenging cases on behalf of workers whose health has suffered or who have died while supporting our community’s economy and infrastructure. We represent workers in all types of dangerous professions, including:

• Mining — These workers are in constant danger of injuries resulting from mining accidents and hazardous conditions, such as exposure to toxic substances, inhalation of coal dust particles, mine collapses, gas explosions, flooding, dust explosions and malfunctioning mining equipment. Coal mining electricians are also at greater risk for exposure to asbestos, which can lead to asbestosis, asbestos lung cancer, or mesothelioma.

• Construction — The lives and health of construction workers are often in jeopardy, especially due to the “fatal four” types of construction accidents — falls, electrocutions, getting struck by objects and getting caught in or between objects. Construction trades are also at greater risk for exposure to asbestos, which can lead to asbestosis, asbestos lung cancer, or mesothelioma.
• Highway construction — Highway construction crews face serious risks of being run over or backed over by dump trucks and other heavy equipment. They may also be involved in collisions between work vehicles, caught in between pieces of construction equipment, struck by heavy objects, or hit by passing motorists, as just a few examples of highway work zone accidents

Recovery for occupational diseases

Chronic exposure to toxic and harmful substances can cause debilitating and fatal illnesses. Symptoms of occupational diseases sometimes do not manifest for years, making causation more difficult to identify. Our attorneys conduct meticulous research to link your medical condition to your workplace. We consult with a team of experts who assist us in demonstrating the cause of your illness and determining the parties who are at fault.

Consult our Charleston legal team to recover compensation for workplace accidents

For more information about workplace accident or occupational disease claims, call Calwell Luce diTrapano PLLC at 304-400-6558 or contact our law firm online to schedule an appointment.