For workers in Minnesota, little thought is usually given to the possibility that they might be injured, or even worse, killed while on the clock at work. When placed on the table for analysis, these fatalities can be seen to be clustered in certain industries inside The Land of 10,000 Lakes. Whether you have been hurt on the job, or have had a loved one who has beaned killed on the job, you understand the need to be constantly vigilant while at the worksite.
We can look at the State of Minnesota’s safety record based on the governmental reports, which the federal government releases annually to help raise awareness of workplace injuries and fatalities. The purpose of these reports is designed to help reduce such accidents in the future by looking at remedial safety measures that can help reduce incidents of wrongful death while on the job in Minnesota.
Industries That Cause the Most Wrongful Deaths in Minnesota
According to a 2019 Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the last year of available statistics, the federal government detailed the incidents, occupations, and industries that are most identified with fatal incidents within Minnesota.
Released annually to discover where and when workplace injuries occur while on the job, which is used to help raise awareness and reduce fatal workplace incidents amongst companies and employees. These reports offer an understanding of those commercial industries, which that were more prone to fatal accidents than others. According to governmental sources with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019 saw 80 workers dying while on the job in Minnesota.
Categorized by industry, the highest frequency of fatalities comes from the following industries:
- Transportation and Warehousing
- Crop Production
- Construction industry
The numbers illustrate that the vast majority of fatalities in each of these industries was in some way related to the use of a vehicle. As might be expected, within the driving accident category, the leading casualties of these auto accidents, heavy and tractor-trailer drivers comprise the highest number of deaths within a single occupation. Just as motor vehicle accidents claim a large toll of the fatalities that happen on a given day, it is perhaps not surprising that that activity claims an equally large proportion of those work-related fatalities.
What Are Types of Damages Awarded in Wrongful Death Suits?
There is an array of damages available to family members following a wrongful death incident. Dealing with the death of a loved one is already difficult, but it is even harder when the primary breadwinner is lost. For this reason, wrongful death compensation suits look to lift the financial burden of unexpected expenses.
When a Minnesota court awards damages following the successful conclusion of a wrongful death suit, it will look to provide a judgment that covers an array of compensation. These are the types of compensation that courts typically award to victims’ families in the aftermath of a work-related fatality.
Financial compensation in the aftermath of wrongful death include:
- Burial costs—and funeral expenses are typically awarded when it is proven in a wrongful death suit that another’s action precipitates. Covering everything from caskets to funeral home rentals, these expenses can quickly mount leaving surviving members of the family scrambling to make ends meet.
- Lost wages—are rarely the first thing anyone thinks about in the immediate aftermath of wrongful death at work. That being said, however, as the victim is typically the leading breadwinner in the family, lost wages cannot be forgotten for long. Wrongful death compensation seeks to ameliorate these losses so the family can meet its basic necessities.
- Loss of consortium—recognizes the critical role that the victim played in the social fabric of their family’s life. The emotional trauma of losing a loved one cannot be overstated, and placing a monetary award for that loss is difficult. That said, however, Minnesota statutes note the critical need for compensation to those who have lost a loved one owing to another’s negligence.
If a loved one has been killed while on the job, you and your family have the right to receive financial compensation designed to not only help meet living expenses and lost wages in the aftermath of their death, but it also offers compensation for the less tangible loss of consortium.
If you believe that your loved one died owing to the negligence of another, you need to reach out to an attorney that specializes in wrongful death suits. Proving a wrongful death claim can be difficult, so hiring an attorney with the resources it takes to successfully prosecute such a claim is critical.
Call the Wrongful Death Attorneys at Tyroler Injury Law
If a loved one is the victim of a workplace fatality, that occurrence will have deep and long-lasting implications for you and the rest of your family. For that reason, you will want to speak with a Minnesota-based wrongful death attorney to explore your rights. If your loved one’s loss is the result of another’s negligence, you may have a case for compensation.
Contact our team here at St. Paul-based Tyroler Injury Law for a free consultation. We will fight hard for you and your family as we research your case, investigate the evidence, and negotiate for a settlement that will not leave you and yours want in the years to come. If we cannot gain a fair settlement offer, we will take your claim to court and fight to win your victory.
