Authorities have identified a 64-year-old worker who died of severe on-the-job injuries after he was trapped in a trash compactor, as Efren Monterroso. The fatal accident occurred at a North Hills business on October, 23, 2009, according to Associated Press and Los Angeles Times news reports. Emergency personnel found Monterroso dead inside a trash compactor that was used for crushing cardboard. It is not clear how he got stuck inside. The name of the business where Monterroso worked is not known.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Efren Monterroso. They have indeed suffered a sudden and untimely loss. Monterroso's grieving family will be in my prayers.

Job Injury Statistics

According to statistics released by the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal-OSHA) in 2005, 453 people were killed in industrial accidents in the state. Out of these fatalities, 59 deaths were attributed to falls and 25 were caused by workers getting trapped in machinery.

In this particular case, the details of why the fatal industrial accident occurred are not available at this point. There is a possibility that this accident was caused by a defective product or some type of mechanical malfunction in the product. There is also the question of whether someone else's error or negligence caused this accident. Other factors to consider include whether the accident occurred as Monterroso was performing repairs on the compactor and if proper safety procedures were being followed.

Third Party Claims

Monterroso's family will very likely get worker's compensation benefits from his employer. However, it will also be worth their while to find out whether there is a "third party claim" here because worker's compensation benefits are hardly sufficient to compensate a family for the loss of a wage earner, not to mention the death of a loved one. A third party claim may be filed against someone other than the victim's employer such as a contractor, sub-contractor or even the manufacturer of a defective product. Monterroso's family would be well-served to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who will investigate this case thoroughly and make sure their rights are protected and that they receive the due compensation for their loss.

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.