Cody Traber was a 41-year-old firefighter for the Spokane County Fire Department who passed away due to a fall accident in late August. He served in the department for 18 years, leaving a legacy of service behind. The release of details to the public has lagged as loved ones grieve and others search for answers surrounding Traber’s death.
Traber’s passing is symbolic of a larger issue, however. Work-related deaths have long plagued many families, especially in Washington state. Dozens of people perish each year due to dangerous work environments, ones that put the lives of loved ones at risk. If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident on the job, please reach out to a competitive Spokane slip and fall attorney from Russell & Hill, PLLC to seek compensation for your losses.
Washington Struggles With Work-Related Deaths
An experienced firefighter by the name of Cody Traber from the Spokane County Fire Department recently died after answering a false alarm call for a wildfire near Fairwood in northern Spokane County. Traber, along with other District 9 firefighters, were dispatched at around 10:00 p.m. after a pedestrian called to report the fire. The call has been officially declared of “good intent” as the caller did not intend any harm to come from the report. Upon arriving, the firefighters could not identify the location of the fire and decided to find higher ground.
Traber and two other firefighters rode up to the Wandermere bridge to get a better view and better investigate the location of the fire. Reportedly, Traber was the only one to actually exit the fire engine. While it is known that following his exit from the firetruck he eventually fell to his death, no other information was given to the public surrounding the events of the accident.
An investigation into Traber’s passing was begun shortly thereafter by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, and Washington State Patrol. The investigation initially released information surrounding Traber’s death in the passing days, however, this report is no longer available. The delay in information was intentional to respect the affected parties.
Family and friends have been heavily impacted by the incident. As a result, group support sessions have been offered to firefighters that wish to partake. Additionally, those afflicted by Traber’s death have launched symbolic initiatives in memorandum such as the display of black bands on their badges at recent press conferences.
Washington State has a complex history of work-related fatalities as the state hit an all-time low in 2011 with 53 deaths, rising to 76 in 2018. Of the 2018 figure, a whopping 92% were men. Falls are extremely common in WA state, reaching the second position out of the most common types of fatalities – only being beaten out by motor vehicle incidents. Out of all deaths in fall-related accidents, 14 of 15 were from elevations higher than 10 feet, and 87% involve people 50-years-old or older. These realities spell out an increasingly dangerous set of working conditions for employees in Washington State.
Where To Turn After A Work-Related Accident
Russell & Hill, PLLC is an established law firm serving the state of Washington. A skilled Spokane slip and fall attorney will be able to assist you and your family following an accident that has occurred on the job. If seeking assistance, please call us at 800-529-0842 or message us here for a free consultation.