Was safety negligence or an equipment malfunction a factor in this loss of life and are justice and compensation available to the victim’s family? Our firm represents victims of safety failures across the United States, and we have recovered nearly $200 million dollars for our Clients. Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available.
Morris, IL News
A man lost his life after a work-related incident at a Morris, IL cement plant Wednesday morning, April 3, 2024.
WJOL.com is reporting, “[p]reliminary investigation indicates two men were working at [a cement plant] located at 755 east Rt. 6. Both men were together at the time of the incident. It appears a large fin that is attached to a shaft was binding at the base of a large drum. While attempting to free up the fin and shaft, the unit broke free knocking one worker to the base of the drum.”
Starvedrock.media is reporting, “Morris firefighters worked quickly to pull [the man] from the confined space and rushed him to the hospital. That’s where he was pronounced dead Wednesday morning.”
According to Patch.com, “[t]he [cement plant] worker, Cory Umgelder of Odell, was pronounced dead at 9:26 a.m. This incident remains under investigation by [Grundy County Coroner Office] along with OSHA.”
Is Justice Available? Our Legal Take
Employees, vendors and guests of manufacturing facilities have a right to safety and security while on the premises. The safety measures provided both at the plant facility and by the manufacturer of any equipment involved may be at issue, and may be important in evaluating whether this tragic incident may have been prevented. Relevant factual and legal inquires include, but are not limited to:
- What safety rules were in place to prevent this type of accident?
- Did any such safety features fail?
- Was the tragedy a result of a catastrophic equipment malfunction?
- Was the manufacturer or property owner aware of the potential safety risks to employees?
- Were any attempts made to service, recall or replace any malfunctioning equipment prior to the incident?
Under Workers’ Compensation laws, our legal team suggests that the family of Cory Umgelder will most likely be entitled to significant compensation as a result of this accident. While Mr. Umgelder’s family should be eligible for benefits under workers compensation laws, they may also hold a substantial third-party civil claim against the designer or manufacturer of any malfunctioning equipment. Based on its history and experience in representing families in workers compensation and product liability claims, The Murray Law Firm suggests that Mr. Umgelder’s family should retain legal counsel without delay so as to ensure that all evidence connected to the incident is preserved.
OUR RESULTS: NEARLY $200 MILLION IN VERDICTS AND SETTLEMENTS FOR OUR CLIENTS
The Murray Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for individuals who have been hurt, or families whose loved ones have been lost, in work accidents and as a consequence of an unsafe property. We have obtained nearly $200 Million in verdicts and settlements for our Clients, including a $29.25 million dollar verdict for the family of a worker who lost his life at an unsafe property as consequence of a product defect. We offer our legal assistance, if desired.
We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.
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