A tragic accident at a Salem, New Hampshire Sears Auto Center has left one young man dead and another seriously injured. On Saturday morning, 22-year-old Sears Auto employee, Justin Almon, suffered life-threatening injuries when a tire he was filling “exploded off the machine,” hitting both he and a customer in the head. According to Salem police, the 911 call came in just before 8:00 a.m. When police arrived at the scene, they found Almon with blunt force trauma to the head and 23-year-old Adam Sproul, a customer who had also suffered serious head injuries. Contact a Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today.
Incident Under Investigation by OSHA
Almon was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the Parkland Medical Center. Sproul, a resident of Boothbay Maine, was first transported to Lawrence General Hospital and then airlifted to Boston Medical Center. His condition has not been released. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Salem Police Investigative Services Unit are currently investigating the explosion, but preliminary investigation shows that Almon was using an industrial tire changer to fix a large truck tire at the time of the accident.
Following the incident, Sears released this statement, “”First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our associate, and we send our deepest condolences to them. We also send our thoughts and concerns to our customer who was injured in this tragic accident. We are working closely with local authorities as they investigate this matter.”
Defective Equipment Can Be Deadly
Certain occupations pose a much greater risk of serious injury and fatality than others. For example, mining, offshore drilling, and some construction-related jobs. However, freak accidents, such as the tragic incident above, can happen in any work environment. Even seemingly innocuous equipment should be operated with extreme care, and regularly maintained and inspected.
Further investigation into this case will likely reveal the cause. It may have been due to a design defect or manufacturing defect. If this is the case, the manufacturer may be liable. It is also possible that the accident was a result of employer negligence. If, for example, the equipment was sound at the time of purchase but hasn’t been adequately maintained, Sears may be liable for the employee’s death.
Altman & Altman, LLP – Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Serving All of Massachusetts
If you have been injured in a work-related accident, or as a result of another’s negligence, the experienced team at Altman & Altman, LLP can help. We have been fighting for the rights of accident and injury victims for nearly 50 years. Our skilled, knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorneys have extensive knowledge of the constantly evolving landscape of workers’ comp law. It is our goal to make the process as painless and efficient as possible. If negligence was at play, you may be entitled to additional compensation. Whether you suffered injuries in a work-related accident, or an accident outside of the workplace (such as a slip and fall, auto accident, prescription drug injury or failure to warn injury), we can help you determine how to move forward. You’ve been through enough already, let us help. Contact us today for a free consultation about your case.