IRVINE, CA — Two people have been taken to the hospital after a serious accident that happened in Irvine, California on Friday, December 5th, 2014. The news article from The Lake Forest Patch said that the accident happened at about 10:15 Friday night.
Two people were taken to the hospital after the jackhammers they were using struck high-voltage cables underground at the intersection of Michelson Drive and Harvard Avenue.
Both men sustained burns to their hands and faces in the accident.
Representatives from the California Office of the Occupational Safety and Health are investigating the accident.
Scene of the Accident
Commentary:
Some of the news reports I’ve read tell me that these victims were contractors. This may seem like an unimportant detail, but in reality, contractors injured by a third intervening party are usually not subject to the woeful limitations and restrictions on workers’ comp. Due to workers’ compensation’s non-adversarial structure, victims have a very, very hard time contesting much, so companies will often low ball them with compensation they are due simply because they know the hill to challenge it is too tall for most to climb. If the power company failed to flag the lines in the ground, or if the company that contracted the workers knew about the lines and forgot to tell them, then either the utility company, or the company that contracted the men could have a claim against them, but I’d need to see more before saying anything for sure.
— Grossman Law Offices
