Much is made about “safety fines” and government regulations that  might somehow affect business in a negative way. The fact is that most regulations have been developed in close coordination with the business community, and enforcement is weak or non-existent. Work place safety?  It is better than it was 50 years ago, but it’s not because the government has taken seriously its’ obligation to fine companies with safety violations. Some workers comp injuries continue to occur because of weak or non-existent enforcement of safety rules.  Here’s a real world example.  A deputy sheriff is on temporary assignment at a fire station, and is sleeping there overnight. The fire station has two doors about 15′ apart. One goes to the bathroom, the other to a shaft where the fire pole is located. There is no light or markings for either. At 3 a.m. the 43 year old deputy sheriff gets up to go to the bathroom and steps through the door in front of the shaft for the firepole, falling 18 feet. He breaks legs, ribs, and his pelvis. He is unable to ever return to work. Regulations about marking doorways into shafts have been around for decades.  The fine?  $800.00.  Can anyone realistically believe that an $800 fine will bring about change? The importance of lawsuits for personal injury often transcends compensating the injured and their families, it brings positive change and make this a safer world.

Phillip Miller is a Tennessee Accident Attorney specializing in
Tennessee Auto Accidents, Tennessee Truck Accidents, Tennessee Wrongful Death, and Tennessee Motorcycle Accident cases.

Phillip has an AVVO rating of 10.0 (Superb), has been designated as a “Superlawyer”, and is the President Elect of the Tennessee Association for Justice.

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