Personal Injury « Rainwater, Holt & Sexton

Archive for the ‘ Personal Injury ’ Category

Apr

Arkansas Equipment Accident Leaves One Worker Dead and Three Injured

April 1, 2013

An Arkansas Equipment Accident at one of the state’s nuclear facilities was responsible for leaving one worker dead and three others seriously injured over the weekend. According to a story from MSN News, the incident occurred yesterday at the Entergy Arkansas Nuclear Plant in Russellville.

Reports indicate the men were performing duties associated with moving a large piece of equipment from a turbine building. While they were moving the equipment, the machinery broke free and fell on top of the crew.

Three of the men were seriously injured and transported to a local hospital by rescue crews in for treatment. However, one of the victims sustained life-threatening injuries and died a short time after the accident occurred.

Two nuclear reactors at the plant were shut down as a precaution following the accident and the facility was also put under an emergency status.

Investigators are still looking into the cause of the accident and if it could have been prevented.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that roughly 15 percent of all workplace fatalities that occurred last year were caused by contact with an object or equipment on a job site. That’s why Rainwater, Holt & Sexton and their team of Little Rock Injury Lawyers are here to help if you or a loved one were injured on-the-job.

Jan

Business with Little Rock Ties Announces Plans to Rise from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Jan. 28, 2013

A company with ties to Little Rock has had its Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan approved by creditors. An article from Arkansas Online examined the details of Hawker Beechcraft Inc.’s maneuvers and how they will affect the company and state of Arkansas in the coming years.

The company will have to designate a new board of directors to oversee the company’s operations as part of the $600 million deal struck with JP Morgan Chase Bank and Credit Suisse AG. In turn, the company will receive the financing needed to pull itself out of bankruptcy by late February. The deal also will allow for the company to receive a term loan from the banks as well as a revolving credit line.

While the deal will help Hawker Beechcraft get back on its feet, downsizing will have an impact on the local economy. The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport says it will lose approximately $600,000 in income since the company will not be renewing a lease it held on five hangers and nearly 50 acres of land at the facility.

The financing is contingent on approval from the courts that hear Arkansas Bankruptcy cases.

The Little Rock Personal Injury Attorneys with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton understand that tough economic times have made some businesses financially unstable in the area, and suggest discussing debt relief options with an attorney if your business is struggling to stay afloat.

Nov

Woman Sues Wal-Mart for Injury Sustained at Work

Nov. 12, 2012

When a worker is injured, the employer’s workers’ compensation insurer is typically responsible for covering many costs associated with the accident. Sometimes, however, an insurer may deny claims and ignore policies in order to protect profits.

An article from Opposing Views told the story of a Little Rock woman who recently successfully sued Wal-Mart for an insurance claim resulting from a personal injury sustained while working.

The suit explains that the woman began working for Wal-Mart as a cashier in 1996. Ten years after starting, the woman sustained an Arkansas Personal Injury while lifting a bicycle. She was told by a doctor to limit her lifting to no more than 20 pounds. As a result, she was given the job of greeting customers.

However, her job change only lasted one shift, and the injured woman was soon required to lift well above the 20-pound limit established by her doctor.

The law states an employer must offer work to an injured employee that is within their capabilities if available. The Arkansas Court of Appeals ruled Wal-Mart failed to make the woman such an offer and ordered them to pay lost wages benefits.

The Arkansas Personal Injury Lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton would urge anyone dealing with an insurance claim related to an injury to discuss your legal options with a qualified attorney immediately.

Oct

Arkansas Sees Rise in Work-Related Injuries

Oct. 22, 2012

The Arkansas Department of Labor announced earlier this month the state saw a jump in the number of workplace fatalities last year. The Arkansas New Bureau reported the number of Arkansas workers killed in on the job accidents increased from 88 in 2010 to a total of 93 in 2011.

The leading cause of death was transportation injuries. Data showed that 50 of the fatal work-related accident in the state, or 54 percent of the total fatalities, were caused by motor vehicle collisions. This was the eighteenth year in a row transportation accidents were the leading cause of work-related deaths.

Death resulting from an Arkansas Equipment Injury was the second most common fatal accident on the list. Experts claimed that last year these accidents killed eleven Arkansas workers. Nine individuals died after being hit by an object or piece of equipment, while six others died as a result of falls caused by equipment.

Another 14 workers died after being exposed to harmful substances or work environments. This includes six workers who were electrocuted and five others who suffered heat strokes.

Eleven other Arkansas employees were killed as the result of violent acts committed by animals or other humans.

The Arkansas Personal Injury Lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton believe employers have a responsibility to provide their workers with a safe environment to do their job and would suggest anyone hurt on the clock discuss their case with a qualified attorney.

Oct

Arkansas Work Fatalities Reportedly on the Rise

Oct. 8, 2012

The U.S. Department of Labor recently released several startling conclusions about job related injuries and deaths in Arkansas last year. The Commercial reported an increase in the number of work-related fatalities in the state during recent years.

Data from the study showed a total of 93 workers killed on the job in Arkansas last year, an increase of five deaths compared to the 2010 total. Results also concluded most of the accidents occurred in the private sector, which accounted for a total of 74 work-related deaths. Six casualties were classified as self-employed, while government worker deaths in the state totaled 13 in 2011.

The majority of deaths, 54 percent, were the result of transportation accidents. This was the eighteenth year in a row this type of accident had been the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the United States. In 2011, 36 of the 50 fatal transportation accidents were car accidents with another vehicle, wall, or other object.

Additionally, 11 workers were killed due to Arkansas equipment injuries, with nine workers being struck or pinned by an object or equipment at a jobsite. Fourteen workers died from exposure to hazardous environments as well.

The Little Rock Personal Injury Lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton understand the dangers many workers face each day and are here to help if you or a loved one is ever hurt in a work accident.

Oct

Arkansas Girl Loses Finger in Accident

Oct. 1, 2012

The family of a young Arkansas girl, who lost part of a finger after it was closed in a door at her school, has filed an Arkansas insurance claim seeking compensation for the injury. KSLA 12 News reports the accident happened at Saratoga Springs Elementary School several days ago.

The 4-year-old girl says that after getting off her school bus, she walked through the back door of the school into the cafeteria, but the child accidentally stuck her hand between the door and its frame. When the door slammed closed, it severed the tip of the middle finger on the child’s right hand.

The child’s mother claimed she got a call from the school, informing her something was wrong, but providing no further explanation. Furthermore, when she got to the school, no staff member could explain what went wrong or who was supervising the child. Instead, she was given a bag of ice with the fingertip inside.

The young girl was taken to a Little Rock medical facility where the finger was reattached. Doctors will be unsure if the procedure worked for several weeks.

The child’s parents say the school’s response has been minimal. A school spokesperson stated they followed procedure by offering secondary insurance for the child and paying for mileage to and from the doctor’s office.

The Arkansas Personal Injury Lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton would like to wish the injured young girl a full and speedy recovery.

Sep

University of Arkansas Football Coach Files for Bankruptcy

Sept.17, 2012

John L. Smith, the 63-year-old interim football coach at the University of Arkansas, recently filed for Chapter 7 Arkansas Bankruptcy protection after allegedly losing millions in Kentucky real estate deals.

ESPN News reports that Smith began making risky land deals in 1998 while coaching in Louisville, Kentucky. He continued to pour money into the investments until 2008. When the housing market began to crash across the United States, the coach realized he had begun to lose money on the deals. In July, he announced plans to file for bankruptcy.

Estimates show that the coach has up to $10 million in assets, while carrying more than $50 million in liabilities to banks, including North Carolina-based Fifth Third Bank. Bankruptcy filings also stated that a limited liability corporation owned by the coach owed more than $250,000, while the rest was personal debt.

Smith is receiving $850,000 from the University of Arkansas as part of a 10-month contract to serve as interim coach for the Razorbacks football program.

The Arkansas Personal Injury Lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton understand the frustration that can come during tough financial times brought on by failed investments. The firm is always available to discuss legal rights and debt relief options with someone who needs help getting out of debt.

Aug

Arkansas Construction Worker Injured in Cement Mixer Collapse

Aug. 13, 2012

A construction worker was injured this past Friday in Vilonia, Arkansas, as he worked to complete a project at a local high school. The Log Cabin Democrat reports the worker was injured after a piece of equipment fell on him.

The victim was part of a subcontracted crew hired to complete masonry work on a safe room at Vilonia High School. He was on a stand near a commercial cement mixer when it gave way and fell on top of him, crushing the man’s torso, legs, and arms. A spokesman for the Vilonia Fire Department, Chief Keith Hillman, stated that the man had several tons of weight on top of him which resulted in the Arkansas Equipment Injury.

The man’s coworkers were able to lift the mixer so rescue crewmembers could transport him to a Little Rock hospital. The victim remains there and is continuing to recover from his injuries.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that approximately 530 work related injuries occurred in the construction industry during 2010, making it one of the most dangerous industries a person can be employed in.

The Arkansas Personal Injury Lawyers with Rainwater, Holt, and Sexton recognize how difficult getting back on your feet can be after being hurt on the job. That is why they would suggest speaking with an experienced attorney about your legal rights if you have been injured while working.

Jul

Arkansas Teen Critically Injured In Grain Bin Accident

July 30, 2012

An Arkansas teen is recovering after being seriously injured in an accident this past Tuesday morning. According to WREG Channel 3 News, the incident occurred at the Fuller Seed Company in Poplar Grove, Arkansas.

Reports the Phillips County Sheriff’s Department indicate that the Arkansas Equipment Accident happened as the 18-year-old man, from Marvell, was standing next to a grain bin. The grain bin suddenly collapsed on top of the victim as wheat grain was being loaded into a truck, spilling thousands of pounds of grain on top of him.

He was pinned down by the grain’s weight, but was eventually freed by rescue crews and transported to the hospital by helicopter in critical condition.

According to a study conducted by Purdue University, the United States is seeing a growing number of grain bin and elevator accidents. Data shows that in 2010, there were 51 grain bin accidents, twenty-six of which were fatal; these numbers were the highest reported since the inception of tracking this type of accident. Experts blamed a majority of the incidents on employer negligence, noncompliance with standards, poor safety practices, and changes in the quality of the grain that make it behave unexpectedly.

The Little Rock Personal Injury Lawyers with Rainwater, Holt & Sexton would like to remind workers that employers have a responsibility to ensure that a work environment is safe, and that safety procedures should always be followed to prevent equipment accidents.

Jul

Case of Heat Stroke in Arkansas Reminds Workers to Stay Safe

July 2, 2012

With temperatures in Arkansas setting heat records, outdoor workers now have to take extra precautions to make sure they do not overheat. An article from Ozarks First reports that the state saw its first heat-related death of the season last week when a construction worker died as the result of heatstroke in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The Fayetteville Construction Accident happened last Sunday afternoon while the worker was driving a forklift and moving artificial turf to be installed onto a field at the University of Arkansas. Coworkers and witnesses said that the man began to show signs of heat-related illness and was immediately taken to a local hospital, where doctors determined his body temperature to be more than 109 degrees. The worker died the next day.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has begun a full investigation into the incident. Officials from the man’s employer have stated that the accident happened despite workers frequently taking breaks in the shade and drinking fluids.

Experts say that heat stroke can set in when the body’s temperature hits 104 degrees, with symptoms including headache, disorientation, and physical exhaustion.

The Little Rock Personal Injury Lawyers from Rainwater, Holt & Sexton say that summertime outdoor activity is best left to early morning or late afternoon, when temperatures are at their lowest. It is also vital to stay cool by drinking plenty of fluids and to take breaks immediately if you began to feel ill.

Pages (14): 1 2 3 4 » ... Last »