03/17/2011 // Greensboro, NC, USA // Personal Injury Lawyers News // Nicole Howley
Oakland, CA—A dockworker at the Port of Oakland lost both of her legs after she was run over by a container lift on March 2, 2011. The workplace accident occurred around 4 a.m. at the Ports America terminal as the employee was leaving the dock, reported the San Jose Mercury News.
According to officials, the victim was with several other employees who had just finished the night shift and were leaving the dock. It just so happened that the heavy machinery, called a top lifter, was also leaving the dock at the same time.
Apparently it was raining at the time and the operator did not see the woman, and hit her.
“It was raining, the equipment and pedestrians all converged at that one location, and consequently she was run over and lost both of her legs,” Richard Mead, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Local 10 said. “The union immediately demanded that Ports America change the configuration and they subsequently have, but it’s too late. It’s a tragedy.”
She was rushed by responding emergency crews to Highland Hospital for treatment.
The operator of the machinery is reportedly “beside himself” and is seeking therapy. A drug test came out clean.
California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the accident.
Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for California workplace accident lawyers.
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