Police suspect that a Tesla involved in a West Hollywood accident that injured multiple people was stolen. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the July 4 incident commenced at about 12:45 a.m., when police responded to a call from a Tesla dealership regarding a stolen car.

Police reportedly pursued the car, reaching speeds of approximately 100 miles per hour, before the Tesla collided with two vehicles on La Brea Avenue. Prior to coming to a stop, the Tesla crashed into a pole, splitting into two pieces and sparking flames that would affect at least half of the Tesla and another vehicle, authorities reported.

One of the vehicles that had been struck by the Tesla, a Honda Civic, was carrying five people at the time of the collision, one of whom suffered critical injuries as a result. Five other people involved in the event suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to area hospitals for treatment, authorities said. The driver of the Tesla was ejected from the vehicle during the incident and suffered injuries as well, reportedly.

Workers in certain occupations are at a greater risk of getting injured on the job, but they accept the risk and go to work anyways. Construction accidents, in particular, are all too common in America, despite all of the efforts undertaken to make worksites safe for workers. An unfortunate example of the risky nature of construction worksites popped up in the news recently from an incident in nearby San Leandro.

According to the reports, a 48-year-old man was killed on February 13 when a piece of heavy equipment that he was repairing fell on him and crushed him. The equipment was reported to be what is known as a "front-end wheel loader," which is used to move heavy objects. Initial details of what caused this construction site accident were scarce, but there will be an OSHA investigation. Hopefully the investigation will reveal more information as to how this unfortunate accident claimed the life of the mechanic.

Any work accident victim can probably expect to deal with some major setbacks. First, if the injured worker survives the accident, they will need to focus on their medical treatment and rehabilitation. Second, and just as important, is figuring out a way to deal with all of the unexpected medical expenses. In the long run this second issue can actually become the most troubling result of a workplace accident, especially if the worker is fortunate enough to make a full recovery from physical injuries.

Companies and employers are often focused on the bottom line more than anything else. This means that their goal to make a profit may come at the expense of other things, such as worker safety. For construction workers, risks often arise when the workers are pressured to complete a job more quickly to meet a deadline or when safety standards are not upheld. Unfortunately, construction accidents can have serious negative effects on employees, including severe injury and permanent disability or even death.

In June of this year, a subcontractor for an elevator company was killed while working at the site of the new 49ers stadum in Santa Clara, California. His death was caused by being hit by a counterweight of a freight elevator. As a result of his death, the elevator company was recently cited by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health for three safety violations. One violation related to the lack of a injury and illness prevention program. The other two violations related to failure to enclose and guard the counterweights, which exposed employees to dangerous hazards. In total, the violations carry a fine of $54,000.

When employers fail to implement safety programs, properly train employees, ensure that the worksite is safe and properly protect against hazards, injuries and fatalities often result. Workers' compensation benefits attempt to financially protect employees who are injured on the job, but it is not always easy to obtain the compensation that is needed or deserved. In addition, sometimes workers' compensation alone is insufficient to address the egregious nature of the employer misconduct or negligence that caused the accident.

In some professions employees accept that a work injury could occur - but that doesn't mean that precautions shouldn't be taken. Construction workers, for instance, can suffer injuries at a higher rate than individuals in other professions. Factory workers are often at risk as well, and power equipment accidents and injuries can leave workers hospitalized. That appears to be what happened in recent incident at a factory in nearby Fremont.

According to a recent report, a serious incident at a Tesla Motors factory left three workers with injuries. The report indicates that a metal casting press apparently malfunctioned, and as a result hot liquid metal spilled out and burned the employees. All three employees were taken to a medical facility for treatment, and two of them reportedly had to stay overnight.

Occupations that involve the use of heavy machinery and power equipment are obviously more dangerous than those in which a person simply sits behind a desk and types on a computer all day. Interestingly enough, however, when an injury occurs due to a workplace accident it might not matter at all what the injured person's occupation was - all that matters is that the employee should be entitled to compensation, especially if the employer failed to take the proper precautions to prevent injuries. Workers' compensation is usually available to employees who cannot return to work because of an injury at work.

When a Santa Clara County resident suffers an injury at work, several immediate concerns arise. First, seeking medical attention for the work injury is paramount, regardless of the severity. Next, the timetable for recovering from the injury should be established. But, not to be forgotten, is determining how a worker's employment situation will be addressed in the aftermath of the workplace accident.

How an employer reacts to an employee's onsite work injury is important. While some employers may be more understanding of a workplace injury - like, say, construction accidents, where workers are dealing with heavy equipment and accidents are, unfortunately, common - other employers may not be so understanding of an injured employee's situation. Some employers may not want to be known for having a worksite where a dangerous accident occurred, and they will attempt to keep things quiet. But, according to a recent article, the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration may have different thoughts on the matter.

According to the article, OSHA is contemplating a major change in employer practices, whereby an employer must electronically file reports of workplace accidents and illnesses. The big change? These reports would be open to the public.