Some ethical advice please?

Question

Today my oldest son got hurt on the job and went to the emergency room. He has a concussion, but he'll be fine.
Where the problems lies is that he already has friends telling him he should sue his boss. He hasn't said he would, but he is certainly entertaining the idea.
For religious reasons, I believe law suits should be the exception; NOT the rule. It was not a life or death injury and he'll be able to support himself just fine, so if it were me, I would probably not sue; but it's not my life so I've kept my mouth shut so far.
However, I'm just not sure if I should break my silence and tell him what I think, or just leave him to make his own choice. He could end up screwing himself out of the best job he's ever had, and end up with little or no money anyway.
What do you think?

He was hit in the head with the shovel end of a bob-cat. No one at his job wears hard hats, even though its considered construction work. But his medical exspenses are being covered by workman's comp.

WOW! I never knew I'd get so many helping me here!
I'm beginning to see that I should talk to him about this, but now I think I can do it with a more open mind.
After all, his boss doesn't have his employees wear hard hats and that's certainly negligance! I mean my son was knocked out cold by a bob-cat!
Maybe he could tell his boss that unless things change he'll sue.

Answer 1

People are so sue happy nowadays, and they don't think about the long-term affects it has on society and people/institutions that could really use that money.

If I were your son, I would see to it that my medical needs were covered, but nothing more. If he wasn't personally wronged by his employer, then refrain from any further lawsuits. His job and conscience could be on the line.

I'm sorry to hear about your situation, but I'm glad he'll be ok!

Answer 2

This has nothing to do with
religion. His boss is in
non-compliance of OSHA.
Office of Safety and Health.
If your son was hit on the
head by a skiploader shovel,
he may have been shoved
thru the ER fast because it is
a Workman's Comp case
and they get little or no money.
Secondly, your son will have
to lie I guess about how it
happened because Workmen's Comp won't pay
on a NEGLIGENCE case.
Thirdly, You AND your
son should consider the other employees. If this happened
to your son, it can sure happen to others.
Bottom line: Why did it happen. Who was driving
the skiploader? Was he
drinking or on drugs or plain
not paying attention to what
he was doing.
Why do you think it's God's
way to keep your mouth shut?
God gave you a brain, don't you have an opinion?
Your son could very well
have mental problems later on. Did your son even get
a brain x-ray or brain wave
test? It's not the law suit.
It's about justice and an
irresponsible employer!

Answer 3

It depends.

Was the accident due to the fault or negligence of his employer. or was it just an accident? If it WAS due to the fault or negligence of his employer, then he should probably sue... or, alternatively, file a complaint with OSHA. The moral choice would be to think beyond this being "... the best job he's ever had" and to attempt to influence conditions such that the same thing does not happen to somebody else... perhaps fatally. If it was just an accident, then he should just be more careful the next time, and be grateful that he got off so lightly. To sue in that circumstance would be dishonest... and that is reason enough NOT to sue.

Don't tell him what to do... just make sure that he is aware of all the ethical considerations, and let him make his own choice. If he asks you what you'd do... tell him... and tell him why. And please... don't confuse 'ethical' considerations with 'religious' considerations... they are NOT the same thing.

(an atheist)

Answer 4

Let him know exactly what you wrote here! Let your son know that these are the beliefs you raised him with and you hope he would think about it hard before making a decision. Tell him that whenever someone wins a lawsuit against a company (deserved or not) the company has to pay the expense which leaves less money for hiring employees, raises, benefits, capital improvements, and prices will rise for customers. A lawsuit is part of a chain reaction that can affect alot of other people.

Also, lawsuits are expensive and often the loser has to bear court costs. If your son is a legal adult and decides to proceed with a suit, there's not much you can do but hope it's a lesson for him. If he does win, suggest he donate 10% to the religious affiliation in which he was raised.

Answer 5

I'm afraid he's going to have to be injured a lil more seriously than that to collect on an easy pay day. Unless there was some serious negligence or malice, a judge/jury isn't likely to give him the sizeable payoff thats worth ruining his employer relationship and believe me, it would be ruined. It was just a concusion, this isn't the big payday one hurt at work would hope for. Tell him to go back to work immediately, act like it didnt bother him at all, which will get him further faster in an already good job. Lets just hope he's not the bumbling accident prone guy that his employer wants to find a way to get rid of cuz he can't watch where he's going.

Answer 6

Was the boss negligent or was it just an accident? If your son likes his job and thinks that the accident was a freak occurance, he should let it rest. However, should be eligible for workingman's comp; at least to pay the medical bills. To me, it's a sign of greed and immaturity to sue every time there's a problem in your life. Since your son wasn't badly injured, his chances of winning a lot of money are pretty slim, and if he did win, his lawyer would get most of it. Speak up, Mom. His friends are leading him to a BIG mistake.

Answer 7

It would depend on the accident and how it occurred! If equipment or negligence on the part of the boss, then yea he might have a law suit. But if it was the fault of your son, then NO!
People are way to sue happy these days! Will sue over every little thing. And it all started with a cup of coffee in someones lap!!!

Answer 8

Make sure that he is not hurt. Leave it open ended if possible with the Human Resources department. What I mean by that is, if he starts having headaches in 2 months, then what? I slipped and fell at Von's from hot chicken grease that spilled on the floor. It was all caught on tape. Several Von's employees came to help me and took pictures for their injury report. Apparently, no one liked the store manager and they were all telling me to sue the crap out of him. With a smiles on their faces. Long story short, I did not sue. I had an airtight, surefire, money in my pocket, settle, asap kind of deal. If he isn't hurt, let it go. The Lord rewards righteousness in a World so corrupt. I would talk to him. I have a 19 yr old Son myself. If it happened to him, I would be talking with him about it. For sure.

Answer 9

It depends on whether the employer is treating him legally/ethically right. Was the injury the fault of the employer? Were safety rules not followed? Is the employer providing whatever workers' comp he/she is supposed to? There is usually some kind of insurance.

I don't think lawsuits have to be limited to life and death situations, but if the employer is doing what he/she is supposed to then your son shouldn't sue.

As his mom, you should go ahead and tell him this too. You're his mom, right? Tell him lawsuits are for people who have been wronged. Legally, they are, regardless of one's religious beliefs.

And advising him not to "screw himself out of the best job he's ever had" is exactly the kind of advice the older generation is supposed to give the younger generation.

Good luck, I'm glad he wasn't seriously hurt.

Answer 10

You should tell him what you just told us and hope he makes the right decision. If he realizes it's the best job he ever had and he likes it, he probably won't sue. All those other people are getting there two cents in, you should too, so he has some weight on the side of not suing. If he keeps getting sue! sue! sue! pretty soon he might lean that way wether he wants to or not. SPEAK YOUR MIND!! Maybe he wants to hear what you have to say.GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 11

If he hurt himself on the job he has just cause for a workmans compensation claim. All businesses are required to carry it and it would pay for his medical plus any residual effects the concussion might have. Thats the way to go. Suing the boss might well cost him his job and foster the mistaken notion that easy money is had thru being litigious.

Accidents happen. Thats why there is workers comp.