New Jersey residents may not be aware of the financial setbacks in Hollywood that are resulting in dangerous conditions on the sets of some of TV and film’s most famous productions. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, there has been a recent increase in the rate of serious accidents in the entertainment industry. A camera assistant working on the film “Midnight Rider” was killed in a train accident that left eight other crew members injured in Georgia.
The “Midnight Rider” set accident occurred because the director failed to get permission to film on the tracks. As a result, the director was sentenced to jail, and the film company behind the movie was fined $74,900. The fine has resulted in criticism from many people who believe that the penalties should have been higher to discourage filmmakers from taking such risks in the future.
According to OSHA, the rate of accidents on the set of entertainment productions came close to doubling over a one-year period between 2014 and 2015. OSHA is unable to impose harsher penalties due to Congressional limits on fines. Experts say that many film-related accidents are not reported to the media unless they involve a well-known project. Budget limitations often lead directors to cut costs and introduce safety risks to the set in an effort to save money.
Actors and crew members who are injured on set may benefit from consulting a personal injury lawyer. A lawyer in this field may work with injured victims to receive workers’ compensation. In some cases involving gross negligence on the part of the employer, it may be more beneficial to pursue a personal injury lawsuit instead. Such lawsuits can yield compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, among other types of damages.
