A New Jersey electrical contractor has agreed to a $1.3 million settlement for burn injuries received in a warehouse explosion, as reported in the New Jersey Law Journal.
According to the suit, Michael Young, of Bayville who was 50 at the time, needed to be airlifted to St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, suffering from third-degree burns encompassing 36 percent of his body, including his arms, legs, hands, face, neck and back.
Mr. Young was working as an electrical contractor at Dealer Tire on Valley Brook Road in Lyndhurst NJ. He was replacing a component on a fire suppression system on June 16, 2012, when he was suddenly engulfed in flames. Emergency workers quickly got Young to the Matera Field landing zone where they were met by a helicopter that transported him to the Burn Center at St. Barnabas Medical Center, the states only certified burn treatment center.
Preceding the accident, the system had been inspected by a sprinkler contractor and was found to have extensive corrosion and water damage. Despite the findings, no one named in the lawsuit informed Young of the deficiencies, according to the report.
Young not only sued Dealer Tire but also Palin Enterprises and Valley PW, two entities the each owned 50 percent of the warehouse and were responsible for roof maintenance under the lease, as well as Associated Fire Protection, which performed the sprinkler inspection; and Atlantic Sprinkler, which was performing work on the system at the time of the blast, the report says.
Workplace Burn Injuries
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workplace burn injuries account for one-quarter of all serious burns requiring hospitalization. More than 5000 U.S. workers are injured each year from fires and explosions each year. These injuries are not only to the skin but also to the eyes, throat and lungs.
Burns can be caused by exposure to flames but also from extreme cold, radiation, chemicals, sun, hot liquids like cooking oil, and electrical currents. Electrical accidents such as the one referred to in this article, are one of the most common types of workplace burn injuries, according to OSHA.
Covering the burned area with ointments and bandages can easily treat first and second-degree burns but third and fourth degree burns can be cataclysmic and even deadly. Fourth degree burns go through all three layers of skin, destroying muscle and even reaching the bone.
Burn injures, especially the severe variety, can severely impact an individuals quality of life, their ability to work or even perform normal day-to-day tasks. An individual, who suffered a workplace burn injury, may be able to collect workers compensation, to cover medical bills, transportation to care facilities, medications and loss of income.
Depending upon the severity of the burn, a person may be entitled to additional compensation, to ensure they receive proper care and treatment.
If workers compensation does not cover the full costs, the injury attorneys at Vititoe Law Group can help by pursuing the liable party or parties for additional compensation.
If you received a burn injury at work, call Vititoe Law Group today for a free evaluation of your case. We have helped countless victims of traumatic injuries get the restitution that they deserve. Let us do the same for you. Call 818-851-1886 today
