Jason Vogeltanz Killed in Howard, WI, Semi Accident
Howard, WI -- March 2, 2017, Jason Vogeltanz was killed as the result of an accident where he was pinned between two semis on the job.
Authorities from the Brown County Sheriff's Department released details surrounding the fatal incident. It happened at a Klemm Tank Lines facility located at 2204 Pamperin Road.
Preliminary reports indicate that 36-year-old Vogeltanz was working with two semis at the time. He reportedly was trying to get one of semis "unstuck" when it suddenly moved. He was pinned between the two vehicles, causing fatal injuries from which he died at the scene.
Authorities did not release any specific details about what caused the accident to occur. They say investigations are ongoing.
Map of the Area
Commentary
I'm seeing reports that leave this at, "Investigations are ongoing," but I've seen accident investigations that all too often go uncompleted. This particular accident happened over a week ago, and there are no real details about how the accident occurred. I know many people might be thinking, "Just wait for OSHA to do their thing, and they'll release the details." This usually isn't the case.
OSHA doesn't actually have any obligation to report their findings to the family of the victim. Their main priority is to go in, find some violations, and issue a few fines. Most of the time, these fines only amount to a few thousand dollars, and they don't do anything to assist the family of the person killed in the accident.
It's a sad reality, but those affected by a fatal workplace accident often must take the burden on themselves to get something done about it. In order to find any sort of resolution, many families turn to private investigators who specialize in work accidents. That way, they can find out the exact details surrounding the accident. This is an important step for two reasons.
One is that the family can finally know the full story behind what happened to their loved one. No summaries, no missing pieces--just the full, unadulterated truth. The other, perhaps more important reason, is that any serious safety issues can be properly addressed. A fine of a couple thousand dollars isn't going to affect a company if their shortcuts on safety are saving them hundreds of thousands. Only by holding them fully accountable can they be forced to fix their mistakes. This helps ensure that no other family has to suffer similar tragedies in the future.
The bottom line is this. In order to properly address a fatal workplace accident, there needs to be a thorough, independent investigation. Anything less than that is disservice to those affected by the accident. Having all of the information surrounding the incident is the best way for a family to find some sort of resolution during their time of immeasurable hardship.
--Grossman Law Offices
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