While work injuries can occur in any occupation in Camden County, New Jersey, certain industries are known to have higher rates of fatal workplace accidents. When a worker is killed on the job, their surviving family members have the right to pursue compensation for their death.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) highlights the leading types of fatal occupational injuries that occur in Camden County. Transportation incidents were the most common from 2017 to 2018, accounting for around 33 percent of all fatal occupational injuries. 

Transportation incidents is a broad term that covers many different types of work-related accidents that can involve aircraft, pedestrians, and collisions with various types of motor vehicles. For example, two construction workers were killed on the Ben Franklin Bridge when they were struck by a train in October 2022. Another incident saw a construction worker getting injured in a hit-and-run accident in a construction zone on Route 42 in Camden County.

Rounding out the top five types of fatal occupational injuries were the following:

• Contact with object or equipment – 27 percent
• Struck by object or equipment – 21 percent
• Roadway incidents involving a motorized land vehicle – 17 percent
• Exposure to harmful substances or environments – 16 percent

The above fatal work injuries can occur across many different industries. BLS found that from 2017 to 2018, the trade, transportation, and utilities industry had the highest number of fatal injuries, with 35 percent.

The goods-producing industry, along with transportation and warehousing, each accounted for 25 percent of fatal occupational industries in Camden County. Other top dangerous industries included construction, along with professional and business services.

What Can Families Do After a Fatal Work Injury?

Families who have lost a loved one due to a Camden County workplace accident often face financial hardships on top of dealing with grief. What many do not realize, however, is that surviving family members have the right to file a workers’ compensation claim to obtain death benefits.

Bringing a successful claim requires family members to show that their loved one’s fatal injury was linked to their employment. It is not necessary to prove that someone else was at fault for the death. 

While families can typically pursue only a workers’ compensation claim after a fatal work injury, in some cases, they may be eligible to bring a Camden County wrongful death lawsuit against a third party. A third-party claim may arise if a worker’s death occurred due to the negligence of someone else other than the employer, such as a subcontractor or a driver outside the company.

The wrongful death claim must establish that the third party owed the worker a duty of care, violated the owed duty of care, and that the workplace accident caused the worker’s death. The fatal work injury could have been prevented had it not been for the third party’s negligence.

One of the main differences between the two types of claims is that the death benefits available through a workers’ compensation claim are limited. A wrongful death lawsuit, on the other hand, allows families to recover a broader range of damages. They may receive compensation for emotional distress, loss of companionship, and other non-economic damages that result from their loved one’s death. 

Contact An Experienced Camden County Lawyer Can Help

At Petrillo & Goldberg, we understand the difficulties that families go through after losing a loved one in a fatal workplace accident. As the BLS data indicates, fatal work injuries can occur across many different occupations and industries. When a worker is suddenly killed in a workplace accident, their surviving family members are often unsure of what to do.

A skilled Camden County work injury lawyer can help. Petrillo & Goldberg can determine what kind of claim is appropriate in your situation, allowing your family to recover maximum benefits for your loved one’s death. If there is a possibility of pursuing a wrongful death claim against a negligent third party, we can advise you of your legal options.

At Petrillo & Goldberg, we have more than 25 years of experience handling all types of work injury claims. To learn more and to schedule a free consultation with a Camden County workers’ compensation attorney today, call 856-249-9288 or connect with us through our online contact form.