Personal Injury Law

Teen Worker in Long Island Fatally Injured after Fall into Cesspool

A 17-year-old boy working at a New York City doughnut shop suffered fatal injuries after falling into an open cesspool as he was taking out the garbage. According to a news report, police pulled the teen from the cesspool and took him to the hospital. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

Cesspools are where waste from sinks and toilets are collected. They are normally covered by a manhole. In this incident, however, there was no cover. There is no word yet as to why the manhole cover was missing, and who is to blame for this tragic death of a teenager. Sadly, cesspool deaths are not a rare occurrence in Long Island. Back in 2001 a man died in his backyard in Huntington when a cesspool caved in under him. In 2006, a 76-year-old woman fell into a 10-foot deep cesspool in her front yard. In June 2007, a man died in Deer Park while driving a lawn mower after he fell into a cesspool.

In cases where injuries or fatalities occur on the job, employees or family members of an employee are provided New York workers? compensation benefits. However, in addition to claiming these benefits, victims or their families can also file a personal injury or wrongful death claim against the negligent party who is directly responsible for the injuries or death. This, in many cases, could be an entity other than the employer, such as the city, or those in charge of maintaining roadways.

Full post as published by New York Injury Talk Blog on April 15, 2010 (boomark / email).