A tragic event occurred in Caswell County at the Conservators Center that led to the death of an intern. The facility is operated under license of the United States Department of Agriculture. State and federal investigators have launched inquiries to determine the circumstances that led to this fatality. The surviving family members of the deceased woman might be considering a consultation with a personal injury attorney to discuss a potential wrongful death lawsuit.
According to a report about the incident, the 22-year-old intern was cleaning an animal enclosure as a part of her duties when a lion attacked her. In response, the center claimed that the lion — a 14-year-old male — escaped from an area that is usually locked. No explanation was available about the circumstances that led to the lion’s escape.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating the matter, which the agency classifies as a priority. However, authorities say there was a delay in the response of the USDA due to the government shutdown. Further reports indicate that tests to determine whether the lion had rabies were negative.
Employers in North Carolina are responsible for the safety and health of employees. Injured workers or the surviving family members of deceased workers are typically entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. However, in a case such as this one, an experienced personal injury might be able to determine whether a wrongful death claim might be viable. In cases of gross negligence by employers, there might be grounds for seeking damage recovery through the civil justice system.
