Baltimore residents, and those all along the East Coast, are still busy clearing the way after Hurricane Sandy devastated the area. The storm affected millions of people and will be remembered as one of the most destructive natural disasters in recent memory.
For most, the damage from the hurricane was in the form of property damage and inconvenience. For instance, many along the East Coast lost power for a substantial period of time. Some were forced to go without gasoline or even food until power was restored. Others were less fortunate, however, including one man who died in a fatal workplace accident as a result of the storm.
The 50-year-old man worked as a contractor in Maryland and was assigned to clear trees that were downed by the massive storm. While he was clearing some trees in a residential neighborhood, a tree fell on top of him and crushed him.
Emergency workers could not arrive in time to save the man, who died as a result of the accident. Maryland's Occupational Safety and Health division will investigate the fatal accident further.
Typically, when an individual dies as a result of a workplace injury, compensation is provided to the worker's surviving family members. Specifically, death benefits may be available to a spouse until he or she remarries. Further, death benefits may be available to children until they reach 18-years-old. While caps may be placed on the amount of benefits, usually the benefits consist of a burial allowance and a portion of the person's wages.
