When people think about workplace accidents, they may think the danger comes from within the workplace. Depending on the occupation, the danger could come from heavy machinery, heights, electricity or hazardous substances. However, people may not realize that the danger can also come from other individuals they meet on the job. For example, the other people who workers interact with — from co-workers to members of the public — can be dangerous in some situations.
For example, in a recent case a New York worker was killed on the job by unlikely source. In this case, the 53-year-old man was a metalworker working on a project in New York City. While he was working, the man saw that a group of people had broken into one of the co-workers car. Reports claim that the crew then went to protect further cars from being damaged.
While pursuing the group that had been breaking into cars, one of the lawbreakers pulled out a gun. Witnesses say that without warning, the worker was shot several times in the chest. He died on the scene. One of the man’s co-workers was also shot in the altercation. This man was hospitalized and is in stable condition.
If another human being causes an injury to a New York worker, the worker may be entitled to compensation. Worker’s Compensation laws protect workers from the financial costs of workplace injuries no matter the cause. This compensation could cover lost wages, medical expenses and more for workers and their families. Workers who have been injured on-the-job need to understand these rights and how to obtain compensation they deserve.
Source: The New York Times, “Worker Is Fatally Shot Trying to Prevent Vehicle Break-Ins in East Williamsburg,” Benjamin Mueller and Eli Rosenberg, Oct. 6, 2015