Even when working above ground, many coal miners may still encounter a variety of potential hazards as they handle job-related tasks. Working with and around heavy duty machinery comes with its own inherent level of risk and coal mine accidents involving such equipment can have cataclysmic outcomes. A 50-year-old man has died following a recent incident at a mine in West Virginia after he was struck by the wheels of a trailer.
According to reports, the accident occurred as the man was attempting to help the driver of a truck move a trailer at the mine. While many of the details surrounding the incident remain unclear, the man was apparently standing in front of the trailer at the time. After the driver was able to get the vehicle moving forward, the man was struck by the wheels of the trailer.
Officials advised that the man suffered severe injuries in the accident and was taken to a medical facility for treatment. Unfortunately, he passed away later that night. The Mining Safety and Health Administration has advised that the incident marks the fourth mining death in 2020, the second of which powered machinery was involved.
While the emotional grief of losing loved ones in fatal coal mine accidents may ease with time, the possible financial ramifications involved could have a lingering impact on a family. Following such a loss, surviving loved ones may be eligible for aid through the workers’ compensation insurance system, but they might be uncertain how best to approach the process. Fortunately, there are attorneys who can evaluate the incident and assist a person in West Virginia in pursuing the full amount of compensation achievable through every applicable outlet.