Despite the safety guidelines set by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act, mining is still an incredibly dangerous job. For this reason, anyone who is interested in mining or is a miner should be aware of the special risks they face when going underground. If you would like to know more, check out these three common coal mining work injuries and what you can do to seek compensation.
1. Burns
Burns can happen in many ways, but they are common when natural gas is exposed and ignited while mining. This is particularly problematic in a coal mine because coal is highly flammable. Therefore, if the fire spreads, there may be no easy way to stop it. Burns can also occur if you inhale heated air and/or smoke. Depending on the severity of the fire, you may end up with first, second, or third-degree burns.
As with most jobs, if there are no mitigating circumstances, you typically can file a workers' compensation claim. If negligence was involved, you may want to contact an attorney too. If you can prove negligence, you may get more in your settlement, and/or you may be able to sue.
2. Crushing
Given the nature of the job, miners are also at a high risk of crushing injuries. Crushing injuries can happen for a variety of reasons, such as a roof collapse or stockpile collapse. In some cases, the collapse is the cause of a defective product, such as a support device. If this is the case, again, you can typically sue.
If the crushing was a basic accident with no negligence or defective devices, you can still file for workers' compensation. Luckily, workers' compensation is usually easy to obtain (as long as you were working at the time of the accident, and the injury is directly related to the accident), making it a fast way to get money for medical bills and lost income.
3. Wrongful Death
In a worst-case scenario, a miner may pass away from a coal mining work injury. If this is the case, the family can seek reimbursement for wrongful death. Unfortunately, not everyone can sue for wrongful death. If your loved one tripped over a rock, hit their head, and passed away, it's typically not considered a wrongful death case.
However, if someone pushed your loved one, causing them to fall and hit their head, you may have a case. Similarly, if the mining company or a manufacturer of a product/machine was negligent, it may constitute a wrongful death.
Coal mining is a dangerous but necessary job. If you or someone you know has been injured or killed because of a coal mining accident or negligence, it's time to take action. For more information, contact a coal miner attorney in your area today.
Share16 September 2021
Over the years, I have learned several lessons the most difficult ways possible. One lesson that I have learned is to never try to handle legal issues without legal representation working with you. I have faced fines and penalties that could have been greatly reduced had I hired an attorney to represent me in court. This blog will show you several ways you could benefit from paying for the legal fees associated with hiring an attorney anytime a legal issue may arise. You will also find examples of how things can go terribly wrong if you don't hire an attorney.
