Lee County Investigators Probing Death At Cement Plant

A 23-year-old Fort Myers man was recently killed in a tragic industrial accident at a cement plant in Lehigh Acres, according to police. The victim passed away after falling into a cement mixer while working third shift at Oldcastle Coastal on Leonard Boulevard North.

Members of the Florida Urban Search & Rescue Task Force recovered the victim’s body almost eight hours after becoming trapped in the concrete mixer. Members of the Estero Fire District, Iona-McGregor Fire District, South Trail Fire District and Lee County EMS were also on scene to assist with the recovery.

Family members remembered the victim as a charismatic, fun-loving individual who was known for giving hugs. He also worked part time for his parents barbeque restaurant in Fort Myers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s family in this difficult time.

Facility shutdown week prior to fatal accident

According to media reports, the plant where the victim worked was shut down for a period of four to five days the week prior to the fatal accident. Inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) had gone to Oldcastle Coastal to examine conditions at the plant.

One media report quoted the deceased’s mother as mentioning mechanical malfunctions as one of the reason’s for the plant to shut down. While family members say they will reserve judgement until the investigation is complete, they believe it may be more than a coincidence the plant faced inspections just a few days prior to their loved one passing.

Fort Myers workers’ compensation lawsuits

Victims of workplace accidents often wonder “Can I sue my employer for an accident at work?” Unfortunately, this is generally not possible, as Florida’s workers’ compensation laws provide an exclusive remedy to claims for workplace injuries or medical conditions.

What this means is that injured workers must work through the prescribed state system of filing claims with their employer for disability and medical bills, not matter how serious the injury may have been. While this system is setup to protect injured workers in their times of need, all too often there are cases of employers and their insurance companies putting profits before people and denying claims.

In these situations, injured workers may need the help of an experienced Fort Myers workers’ compensation lawyer to help them collect compensation and benefits for things like:

• Medical bills;
• Temporary or permanent disability;
• Rehabilitation;
• Medical devices; and
• Death and funeral benefits for surviving family members (in cases of fatality).

Fort Myers workers’ compensation lawyers

If you suffered an injury on the job, you should strongly consider retaining a workers’ compensation lawyer from the very onset of your case to help ensure you and your family get all the benefits you are entitled to. With years of experience, The Pendas Law Firm knows what it takes to successfully resolve workers’ compensation claims for their clients and will work tirelessly to help you too.

For a free consultation about your case, contact our office. We serve clients throughout Florida.