On April 20, 2009, I am set to try the lawsuit of a client against his employer for failing to provide a safe working environment. The client is now quadriplegic and will never walk again. While working for his employer, he fell over thirty feet from an elevated position and fractured his cervical spine. His employer did not provide ANY safety equipment or instructions to my client prior to the fall. Rather, my client was sent to work on the roof of a large warehouse without any protection or measures to ensure his safety. As to be expected when the employer cuts corners on safety, my client suffered the terrible fall and resulting injuries.
Prior to the incident, my client was a young husband and father working hard to provide his family with a better life. Now, he is a prisoner in his own body and will never walk again. His wife now acts as full-time caretaker for her husband, who requires help getting in and out of bed, going to the restroom, and feeding himself. Thankfully, the client at least has some mobility with the use of an electric wheelchair, which he operates with a pencil that is taped to his right hand. The injuries to the client are life-changing, to say the least. Further, the gross negligence of his employer has severely affected the life of the client’s family. His children miss their father, who used to be so full of life and energy. His daughter will never have her father walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. This type of injury affects everyone in the client’s life.
Historically, in a down economy, the first thing that the corporations and large companies cut from their budgets is safety. Indeed, even the smaller companies do this too. As such, during a down economic cycle, we see a large increase in the number of work-related injuries. The lawyers of Abraham Watkins are prepared to combat this type of “cost savings” that occurs at the expense of workers’ safety. It is our belief that regardless of the economic trends, these companies are not allowed to put profits over people. Even when times get tough, the employer needs to remember the basic rule that we were all taught when we were children…Safety First.