Construction work is one of the most dangerous jobs out there. Construction companies are responsible for running safe operations that adhere to every state and federal safety rule, regulation, and restriction. A recent tragic example of a construction site collapse highlights exactly how deadly this industry can be.
The Collapse
According to ABC Eyewitness News, a concrete staircase leading from the 13th to the 14th floor inside a 15-story construction project collapsed. Three construction workers were killed in the process ( a fourth was injured and taken to the hospital). The building is part of the CityCentre shopping complex and is the Marathon Oil Company's future site. The building project had recently been inspected by city officials, which leaves the matter of what caused the collapse even more unclear. Construction collapses are often due to scaffolding collapses, which are deadly enough but lack the immense destructive power of concrete collapsing. A tragedy like this leaves many questions in its wake.
The Possibility of a Wrongful Death Claim
In an accident this chaotic and tragic, it is impossible to know who is responsible for the workers’ deaths. If the construction company that employed them is directly responsible, the claim will proceed through workers’ compensation. In a case like this, however, negligence could quickly come down to a third-party’s actions, including:
Negligence on the part of the property owner
Negligence on the part of a construction worker employed by someone else (or on the part of anyone involved who does not work for the same employer)
Negligence on the part of a subcontractor
In such instances, the families may be able to bring wrongful death claims against the at-fault party on behalf of their lost loved ones.
The Elements of a Wrongful Death Claim
Wrongful death cases are often exceptionally complicated, but the elements that must be represented are relatively straightforward and include:
The party who is at fault owed a duty of care to the victim.
The party who is at fault failed to uphold this duty of care to the victim.
This failure on the part of the at-fault party was the direct cause of the victim’s death.
The death of the victim caused losses (for his or her next of kin).
Wrongful death cases are important cases that, while they can never bring our loved ones back, can help family members move forward in the healing process.
You Need an Experienced Killeen Personal Injury Attorney on Your Side
Wrongful death cases are a complicated component of an already highly complicated area of the law. Brett Pritchard, at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Killeen, Texas, is an accomplished personal injury attorney with a wealth of experience successfully guiding wrongful death claims toward optimal outcomes. Your case is important, so please do not hesitate to contact us online or call us at 254-501-4040 for more information today.