Sadly, on May 8, a man was killed in a tram accident at the Orlando International Airport.
According to reports, the man was aboard an airport tram that was conducting a maintenance run early in the morning when the vehicle made a sudden stop, sending the man through the windshield of the vehicle and to the ground, 15 feet below.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that the victim was a friend of two maintenance workers and was apparently not supposed to be operating the tram or be aboard the vehicle. The newspaper reported that an airport executive said that only employees of Bombardier Transportation, the contractor that operates the tram system, are supposed to be onboard trams.
The accident, which remains under investigation, occurred at around 5:35 a.m. The victim was allegedly operating the tram manually when he pulled his hand away from the control, which caused the vehicle to come to a sudden stop. As of last week, the victim’s identity was not released to the public.
The Orlando Police Department is investigating the accident, and the airport has contacted the National Transportation Safety Board and the Florida Department of Transportation to seek guidance. Additionally, Bombardier contacted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which may investigate the incident.
Speaking to an Attorney Following a Fatal Workplace Accident
Although the case above is usual in the fact that it does not involve an employee, if your loved one is ever killed on the job, you should speak to an attorney about your legal rights.
Remember, while it may be difficult to seek out guidance following an accident, the earlier you can reach out to an attorney, the quicker he or she can conduct an independent investigation into an incident, in addition to any investigations conducted by state and federal agencies. Keep in mind, family members of fatal workplace accident victims can often pursue wrongful death lawsuits or third party claims.
To reach our Central Florida workplace injury attorneys, you can fill out the free case evaluation located on the side of this page or call us directly at the number listed above.