Construction Site Fatalities

Construction work is broadly considered to be one of the most dangerous jobs in America. According to OSHA records, one out of every five (21.4 percent) of the 4,379 private industry deaths on the job in 2015 occurred during construction work. The implications of a loved one passing due to a construction site accident are obvious, and devastating. However you don’t need to go through the aftermath alone, as the professional wrongful death attorneys at Altman & Altman LLP can provide the necessary guidance.

Construction work encompasses a vast array of professions within the field, from those who pour foundations, to those who construct the frames of buildings to those who operate large cranes to erect structures – so there is no one uniform threat to construction workers. The most common causes of death for construction workers on site include:

• Death by falls – 364 of 937 construction deaths in 2015 (38.8 percent)
• Struck by object/s – 90 deaths (9.6 percent)
• Electrocutions – 81 deaths (8.6 percent)
• Caught-in-between accidents, which includes being crushed in collapsing structures – 67 deaths (7.2 percent)

Some construction site fatalities are simply accidents, where an unfortunate set of circumstances led to a death. However there are also many cases where negligence or various safety violations contributed to a death which otherwise may have been preventable.

OSHA compiled a list of the most common safety violations for which they issued citations, which included violations for inadequate fall protection as the number one citation, scaffolding oversights, inadequate respiratory protection, oversights and negligence involving ladder safety, machinery and machine guarding citations, electrical wiring methods and electrical systems design citations.

It is not surprising to see that providing an inadequate standard of fall protection lists as the number one issued citation, and that death by falls is far and away the most common cause of death for construction site workers. The two facts are clearly connected, and may be grounds for a wrongful death suit if someone you love was killed by a fall due to an oversight in fall protection.

Construction foremen and building managers have a responsibility to ensure their operations are up to OSHA specifications and, to the extent that is possible, minimize risk to their workers. Negligent behavior regarding tall heights – be it by providing faulty harnesses or not properly securing scaffolding – is simply unacceptable and is grounds for a wrongful death suit.

While nothing can help someone heal from losing a loved one to an accident, recovering financial compensation through a wrongful death claim can at least make life simpler and less worrisome as you grapple with trying to figure out how to support yourself and your family in the wake of such a tragedy.

At Altman & Altman LLP, our Boston-based attorneys have over 50 years of experience handling wrongful death suits stemming from construction site incidents. We have the expertise to hold those responsible accountable and recover significant compensation for our clients. We also take great strides to care for each of our clients individually, and craft a legal strategy specified to your unique situation.

Dealing with insurance companies and trying to sort out legal affairs after the death of a loved one can be overwhelming, but our team will help ease the process and give you peace of mind. We offer free consultations to go over the details of your situation and figure out where is best to start, always keeping in mind your priorities and schedule.

Call the law offices of Altman & Altman LLP today at 617.492.3000 or toll-free at 800.481.6199. We are available 24/7 to help answer any questions you may have.