Scaffold Deaths In Florida Cause Concern In California

Two construction workers were tragically killed in Florida late last month when the scaffolding they were working on collapsed and they fell six stories to the ground. The accident occurred at a hotel under construction in Orlando and officials said both men died at the scene. In total, four people were on the scaffold at the time, with one managing to get to safety before falling. A fourth worker was able to hang on to the scaffolding and climb up to safety. Authorities say the fourth worker suffered minor injuries and refused transport to a hospital. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and county officials are currently investigating the cause of the accident.

California Scaffolding Accidents

This scaffolding accident made national headlines and created cause for concern here in California. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dozens of workers are killed every year by accidents on scaffolds or other staging equipment. In a Bureau of Labor and Statistics study, 72% of workers injured in scaffold accidents said the accident was caused either by the planking or support giving way or by the employee slipping or being struck by a falling object. All of these instances can be controlled by compliance with OSHA standards.

Determining Fault in Scaffolding Accidents

Some workplace incidents are caused by scaffolding that was manufactured or installed by a third party. Third-party fault might rise to the surface when the scaffold accident is caused by manufacturing or design defects, causing the scaffolding to fail. It may come to light in cases in which the scaffolding was manufactured correctly but another company installed it incorrectly, resulting in the injury or fatality.

When outside companies are negligent in manufacturing or installing the scaffolds, the injured victims or the families of workers who are killed as a result may recover damages through personal injury or wrongful death civil lawsuits against the third parties who were negligent. The injured workers and families at the same time may also receive workers’ compensation benefits from the employers even though they file personal injury lawsuits against the third parties.

Many construction sites are situated in areas that are owned by individuals or businesses not related to the employers. When a dangerous condition that the homeowner or business knew about or should have known about causes a scaffold collapse or other kind of workplace accident, the victims or their families may be able to recover damages through personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits.

Property owners are required by law to protect the safety of visitors who are there for business purposes. If they know or should know about unreasonably unsafe conditions on their property, they have a duty to correct the dangers and to warn the visitors about those hazards. If they do not alert the workers who are working on their property and a workplace accident occurs as a result, they may be liable to pay damages in lawsuits that are filed against them.

California Personal Injury Lawyer

At Los Angeles Injury Group, we understand how critical scaffolding and other workplace accidents can be in California; therefore, we do everything within our power to best assist our clients in getting the compensation they deserve. We believe our clients should receive payment for any damages and losses they’ve suffered. If you, or someone you love, received injuries or were killed in a workplace accident, call (424) 625-7824.