Mining Accidents

The mining industry has one of the highest injury rates for any US industry. It is over five times the national average.

Miners are exposed to the dangers of a methane gas explosion or a structural collapse. In the closed environment of a mine, safety violations can have very serious consequences. A bad accident at the surface is likely to be a fatal one underground.

Common mining accidents include coal stockpile collapses, roof collapses, long-wall shield collapses, methane explosions, runaway mine cars, defective tools and equipment, lack of safety equipment, injuries related to mine equipment usage and silica dust (coal dust). Another common mining accident is from falling rock from the roof of the mine. These injuries often even happen in parts of the mine that otherwise is safe. There ways to monitor and prevent rock falls from the roof but most mine operators do not install these because of the cost involved and because it is time consuming. In deep metal mines, hard rock bursts are also known to occur.

Workers compensation laws list specific illness which when contracted by miners are considered occupational illness. Generally any disease or condition which is contracted or aggravated due to the nature of the employment may be covered under the workers compensation laws. Black lung or pneumoconiosis is considered an occupational disease for miners. Workers compensation law covers most, but not all, on-the-job injuries. The workers compensation law is designed to provide benefits to injured workers, even if an injury is caused by the employer's or employee's carelessness.

If you or your loved ones are a victim of a mining accident, you may be entitled to compensation for the injuries, hospital bills and lost wages, as well as pain and suffering.