The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the police are investigating a workplace accident that claimed the life of a construction worker. The surviving family will likely be eligible for death benefits through the New Jersey workers’ compensation insurance program. Reportedly, the incident occurred at a northern New Jersey construction site.
Few details were reported after the fatal fall of a 47-year-old construction worker. Authorities say the incident occurred shortly before 5:20 p.m. on a recent Wednesday. The deceased worker was a member of a construction crew working on a housing project of planned townhouses, single-family homes and condominiums.
No information about the cause of the accident was published. The height of the fall was reported to be between 35 and 40 feet, and the worker suffered fatal head trauma. The victim’s death was declared at the scene.
No one is ever prepared for an untimely death such as this one. Along with the trauma of losing a loved one, the surviving family members will likely have to deal with unanticipated financial consequences. They can pursue a claim for survivors’ benefits through the state-regulated workers’ compensation insurance program. The prospect might seem daunting, but they can seek the support and guidance of a New Jersey attorney who has experience in the navigation of death benefits claims. Eligible family members typically receive compensation to cover the costs of a funeral and burial, along with a financial package to make up for lost wages and help them to cope with day-to-day living expenses and mortgage or rental obligations.