Polk County Worker Dies During Milton Cleanup
Serious storms may cause destruction, but they also bring together the entire community. After Milton, workers and average residents came together and assisted with cleanup efforts. Unfortunately, hurricane cleanup is not always safe – and many hazards still remain after storms pass. This was made clear after a Polk County worker lost his life while assisting with cleanup efforts. The family of this worker may wish to file a workers’ compensation claim in Tampa.
Maintenance Worker Struck by Fellow Employee During Cleanup Efforts
Residents and workers were feeling optimistic about relatively minimal effects from Milton when the storm proved it was still capable of claiming lives – even after it had already passed. ABC News states that a worker lost his life in Polk County while helping remove a fallen tree on US 98. Crews were cutting away at the tree because it was blocking the road, and they probably didn’t notice a fast-approaching vehicle.
The vehicle was operated by another Polk County maintenance worker who was reportedly arriving at the scene to assist. While the circumstances of the crash are not yet clear, it is being described as a “tragedy” by everyone involved. While we can only speculate, it is possible that the crash was caused by poor visibility, road debris, and other factors related to the storm.
An NBC affiliate states that the driver first struck the fallen tree, which then impacted the victim and another co-worker. This co-worker was hospitalized with unspecified injuries before being released. Deputies say that it was a dark, windy, and rainy morning – and that there are no signs of impairment. The driver simply didn’t see the workers operating near the tree.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim After Hurricane Milton
Many workers may have suffered unspecified injuries while responding to Hurricane Milton in the Tampa area. It is difficult to say whether these injuries will lead to workers’ compensation claims, but this is certainly a possibility. Even if a worker was not officially “on the clock,” they could potentially file a claim for assisting with cleanup efforts and emergency response.
Some of these workers may be expected to “answer the call” outside of normal working hours, and this is certainly how many residents responded to the emergency – often without even being asked by their direct employer. It is worth exploring the possibility of a workers’ compensation claim in this situation, even if you’re not sure whether your incident “counts” as a workplace injury.
Can a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Help Families After Milton?
Families who need financial assistance after Hurricane Milton may want to speak with experienced workers’ compensation lawyers in Tampa. This form of compensation could prove especially suitable after employee deaths during cleanup efforts. These kinds of stories are all too common, and families deserve security after losing loved ones to dangerous tasks like removing fallen trees. Reach out to The Franco Law Group today to learn more about your legal options.
Sources:
abcactionnews.com/news/region-polk/maintenance-worker-who-was-clearing-storm-debris-in-polk-county-died-in-crash
wtsp.com/article/weather/hurricane/hurricane-milton/polk-county-worker-killed-milton-cleanup/67-fec6ef14-b134-4265-95f3-d72ca5bfd5a0
