Arizona Construction Accident Lawyer Blog

A recent article reported a construction worker who fell about 35 feet from a platform of an extended forklift died on February 13th.

Local authorities said the two men suffered from a construction accident fall from a platform that had been raised about 35 feet into the air by a forklift at the site of a home under construction.

The men were applying stucco to a chimney while standing on the elevated platform. As the platform was being lowered, other workers in the area said they heard a popping sound, and the forklift jerked, throwing two of the men off.

Construction sites are widely accepted to be among the most dangerous workplaces in the nation. Construction accident deaths in Arizona have a myriad of causes and can affect workers of all positions with various job descriptions. No one is immune to the dangers of construction accident sites.

Although nothing can undo these tragedies, the law allows some families to pursue compensation that can at least help the family financially get back on its feet after such a loss. The law allows the families of victims of construction accident deaths to seek financial compensation for the loss of their loved one.

Continue reading " Construction Accident Kills One Worker, Injures a Second " »

An article discusses the filing of a lawsuit against a large hotel by the families of two deceased construction workers. The lawsuit charges that officials at the hotel knowingly ordered employees to violate safety procedures and directed them into dangerous situations, thus resulting in this terrible construction accident.

The suit charges that, "Defendants knew or should have known that the failure to follow known safety procedures, follow safety guidelines and exercise reasonable care would render dangerous and unsafe conditions.

Further, it states that: "Defendants intentionally directed employees to violate known safety procedures and safety guidelines, and directed employees into dangerous and unsafe conditions with full knowledge of the known risks of danger, including death to those persons..."

These types of devastating construction site injuries occur in Arizona, as well. Construction accident deaths in Phoenix have a myriad of causes and can affect workers of all experience levels and positions. Luckily, the law sometimes allows the families of victims of construction accident deaths to seek financial compensation for the loss of their loved one.

Continue reading " Deceased Construction Workers Families Sue Casino " »

A recent article discussed the condition of safety in the construction industry during the Bush years. The article explains that in its first two years, the Bush administration pulled 22 items off the agency’s regulatory agenda, its working list of proposed safety and health rules. According to this article, the government also cut proposals that would have increased safety throughout the construction industry. As a result, many construction accidents in Arizona occurred.

Among the programs that OSHA ended as a result of decisions made were plans that would have increased protection for workers on scaffolding, as well as a requirements that would have added protection for workers on residential construction projects. The agency also shelved a mandate to make construction companies participate in safety programs designed “to reduce the incidence of occupational deaths, injuries, and illnesses.”

Continue reading " Arizona Construction Workers Less Safe During Bush Years, According to Published Report " »

A recent article describes a tragic construction site accident. An ironworker was crushed and killed by hundreds of pounds of rebar. The man suffered massive head injuries in the 9:45 a.m. accident.

“He had been trying to set a rebar form — which had just been released from a crane — into concrete when it toppled onto him,” the police officer said. “The man was tied to the form and was near the top of it when one of the supports at the bottom gave way,” he said.

Another ironworker who was helping guide the rebar into place was not injured.

Construction on the new office building began in late summer, Beaudoin said. Workers are in the midst of installing the rebar supports on a lower level of an underground garage.

Construction site accidents in Arizona and other parts of the country are an all too frequent occurrence. Inexperienced workers from other companies on site, lax safety standards with certain companies, and the inherent dangers involved in construction can contribute to accidents that claim innocent workers’ lives.

Continue reading " Construction Site Accident on High Rise " »

A recent article published in the Arizona Republic discusses the recent rash of electrocution accidents in Arizona involving public utility workers. On November 10th, a Salt River Project utility worker was electrocuted working on a lightning-damaged power line. The accident marked the end of a 23-year run for the utility without any electrical fatalities. It was followed just 22 days later by a similar fatal accident at Arizona Public Service Co., ending a 16-year streak for that company.

Despite the two electrocutions, Arizona on the job accident records indicate that both utilities have steadily become safer places to work, with the number of fatalities and minor accidents declining. In 1991, SRP reported an average of 4.86 accidents per 100 workers for the year to OSHA, and APS averaged 3.56. Both utilities anticipate rates below 1.5 for 2008 once the statistics are compiled for OSHA.

Although the utilities pride themselves on their safety measures and lack of work related injuries in Arizona, the fact remains that this is a dangerous profession.

Continue reading " Arizona On The Job Accidents On The Rise " »

An article in azcentral.com discusses the fact that motorists in and around Phoenix are about to see an influx of construction equipment on local highways. As experienced Arizona personal injury attorneys, we hope that drivers use extreme caution and do not cause any construction site accidents on the highway.

The increased construction site activity is due to the regional sales tax from Proposition 400. By the time the program ends in 15 years, metropolitan Phoenix will have a more mature freeway network, with wider highways and smoother interchanges.

This year's work to connect Loop 303 to I-17 represents the first new freeway in the Valley since 2001. In three years, north Valley drivers will be able to get to the West Valley without adding congestion on busier freeways closer in.

The work that was added by monies from local bills coincides with the federal government’s stimulus plan, which directs $567 million to highways and bridges throughout Arizona. The stimulus law requires that half of the money go to projects to be ready for construction within four months. This means that half of the projects being considered are quick repaving jobs, not the big public works that reduce congestion by adding lanes or improving interchanges.

Continue reading " Arizona Freeway Construction At All Time High " »