A member of the San Diego Chargers' game-day staff who suffered fatal personal injuries at Qualcomm Stadium on October 19, 2009 has been identified as 66-year-old Walt Daniels. According to an Associated Press news report, Daniels fell 25 to 30 feet from the coaches' box on to the cement surface right before a game. He sustained major head injuries. He was taken to a local hospital where he died early morning on October 20.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of Walt Daniels for their horrible loss. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved him and those who actually witnessed this tragic accident. They will be in my prayers.
Fatal Accidents On-the-Job
According to the California Department of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal-OSHA), a total of 59 people died in California in 2005 as a result of workplace accidents involving falls from a higher elevation.
Based on this news report, it is not clear how or why Daniels fell to his death. It's not exactly clear how this fatal job injury occurred. I trust state investigators will look into what Daniels was doing at the time of his fall and if all safety procedures were being followed. In such cases, families of deceased victims are entitled to California worker's compensation benefits. However, these benefits are hardly enough to cover medical or funeral expenses and loss of wages, not to mention the loss of a beloved family member.
Possibility of Third Party Claims
Daniels' family would be well-advised to consult an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer, about whether they have a third-party claim here. These claims are basically filed against someone other than an employer. This could be typically, a contractor or the manufacturer of a defective product. Such claims are worth a lot more than worker's compensation benefits. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a complimentary consultation to injured victims and/or their families.
We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.
