When the brakes went out on the company truck he was driving, Tipasa Save avoided plowing into dozens of people. Now the company has contested his comp claims.
How would you reward an accident hero at your company? Lots of ideas come to mind: cash, an award ceremony, some company-wide recognition, etc.
Well, here is a Hawaii company’s reward for its accident hero: We’re not going to pay your workers’ comp.
Honolulu Disposal Service agreed that Tipasa Save was a hero.
Save was driving a company truck weighing 13,000 pounds when he hit the brakes. Nothing happened the first time. Nothing the second time. The third time his foot went to the floor with no result.
The truck was out of control, barreling down a hill at 70 mph.
Save faced a terrible choice, according to media reports: He could steer toward a flat road that was crowded with people, or he could fly over a cliff to spare the people. He chose the cliff.
The truck landed in a parking lot. Save’s co-worker in the truck was crushed to death. Save sustained injuries that have left him unable to drive.
Then the shocking action by Honolulu Disposal: The company contested his compensation claims and didn’t offer him a non-driving job.
The suit claims company inspectors found the faulty brakes two days before the accident, but nothing was done.
Now, Save doesn’t have a job, but he does have a lawyer who is suing the hero’s former employer.
