Lawnmower Accidents on Decatur Worksites: More Dangerous than “Bears Sharks or Alligators Each Year”
Although many – if not most – Decatur workers own a lawnmower or have at least used one in their lifetime or on the job, what many Decatur workers do not know is how dangerous lawnmowers truly can be. Indeed, with sharp blades used to cut thick, sometimes wet grass, and typically moving at a high rate of speed, lawnmowers have the potentially to swiftly and severely injure a worker when conditions are not perfect, the lawnmower malfunctions or breaks, there is some user error, or a freak accident occurs. But how dangerous are lawnmowers to Decatur workers who work with them frequently as part of their work? To help Decatur workers be more aware of the dangers of working with lawnmowers on the job, we discuss that question here.
Lawnmower Accidents in the United States: Death Toll Higher than Many Realize
Lawnmowers – including walk-behind electric-powered mowers, manual lawnmowers, riding lawnmowers, lawn trimmers, edgers and other outdoor equipment used for landscaping activities – are responsible for approximately 90 deaths in the United States annually. According to a Newsweek report, this makes the chances of being killed by a lawnmower greater than the chances of being killed by a shark, alligator, or bear. In addition, there is less chance of dying due to a snake bite, which kills an average of six people per year, or a venomous spider, responsible for approximately 11 deaths per year, than from a lawnmower injury. Surprisingly, there are only four “freak accidents” that kill more Americans than lawnmowers per year. Those “freak accidents” are deer attacks (claiming 200 American lives per year), electrocution accidents (approximately 400 fatalities per year), carbon monoxide poisoning (430 deaths per year on average), and unintentional falls (approximately 36,338 deaths annually). In addition to the significant numbers of lawnmower fatalities, it is also worth noting that another 35,000 Americans are injured by lawnmowers every year.
It is clear that while lawnmowers may seem like every day, benign tools that the average person can use without injury or accident, the truth is that lawnmowers are very dangerous and can put workers at extreme risk when not used and maintained properly, or used in a non-safe work environment.
Legal Help for Decatur Workers Injured at Work
Decatur workers may wonder what rights and options they have under Georgia laws if they are injured at their workplace and become unable to work due to their workplace injury. The good news is that under Georgia workers’ compensation laws, most workers who were injured at work and who are unable to work due to their workplace injury are entitled to collect workers’ compensation benefits. In order to determine whether you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in Decatur, it is best to speak with an experienced Decatur workers’ compensation lawyer about your rights and options as soon as possible after a serious workplace accident occurs.
The experienced Decatur workers’ compensation lawyers at the O’Connell Law Firm are here to help Decatur workers get workers’ compensation benefits due for their workplace injuries. If you were injured on the job and you need legal help, contact the O’Connell Law Firm today and speak to an experienced lawyer about your case now.
Source:
newsweek.com/lawnmowers-kill-more-people-bears-sharks-alligators-each-year-1529280
