Arizona Construction Accident Lawyer Blog

Construction accidents in Arizona on highways and freeways are a major problem, as it is the case elsewhere in the country. Some of the most common types of construction accidents at freeway construction zones are those involving vehicles and heavy equipment. The resulting injuries can be devastating or even deadly to the construction worker. Such accident can be avoided by training workers properly to follow safety procedures and making the construction site secure.

According to a recent news report, a 57-year-old construction worker died recently at a bridge construction site. Apparently, the worker was operating an asphalt roller moving along a slope on the roadway. Suddenly, the operator hopped off the roller. The machine toppled on its side and landed on the worker. The victim was working for a contractor or subcontractor on the bridge project, the news report stated.

In construction accidents, it is very important to look into whether the incident was caused as a result of a dangerous or defective product. If a vehicle or piece of equipment/machinery was involved, then that product must be carefully examined by an expert for any evidence of malfunction or product defects. It would be in victims' best interest to preserve the vehicle or equipment in its current state so it can be carefully examined for defects. If it is determined that a defective product caused the construction accident, then the victim's family may be able to file a third-party claim against the manufacturer of the defective product.

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Arizona construction accidents have the potential to cause devastating injuries that can kill or leave workers disabled for the rest of their lives. In many cases, the injured worker is the only wage-earner in a family. This often causes serious financial problems for the injured victim's family as well. That is why it is extremely important to consult with an experienced Arizona construction accident attorney who can explain all your legal options and make sure you receive fair compensation for your construction accident injuries, damages and/or loss.

One such story involved a worker who was killed in a church construction site when roof rafters fell. According to a recent news report, construction crews were setting them in place when the accident occurred. Four others were also injured in the accident, two of them seriously.

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A number of construction site accidents in Phoenix and elsewhere in the country occur because employers and contractors fail to follow federal safety regulations. These safety standards and regulations are there for an important reason – to prevent devastating injuries and deaths caused by construction accidents. When construction companies or contractors violate those standards and it results in a fatal or injury accident, the companies face severe fines and penalties.

According to a news report, two construction companies agreed to pay $4,875 in fines following a March 16 fatal construction site accident at a mall. A 60-year-old construction worker was working on the ground when a steel bar joist fell and struck him causing fatal head injuries. Officials said the joist was suspended on a sky truck, which is a type of crane. But a strap broke causing the joist to fall. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), cited the construction company for three serious violations including exposing an employee to a bar joist being lifted over him while he was drilling an anchor bolt hole.

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Construction accident injuries in Arizona and elsewhere in the United Sates are often caused by several factors. Construction zones present an inherent danger to those who work in them. Workers in construction sites are dealing with heavy machinery, large objects, and unfinished structures. Danger lurks in scaffolds, cranes and loose dirt. But the fact is that a majority of construction site accidents are totally preventable. However, when these accidents do happen, they cause devastating injuries or even death.

A recent news report talks about an incident where a construction worker who was working in a trench cut himself in the throat with a saw. It's not clear what kind of saw the worker was using at the time of the accident. He had to be airlifted to a hospital for treatment of his injuries. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating this incident.

In many construction site accidents that involve equipment, there are a few questions that come up. Was the equipment or product the worker was using defective in some way? In other words, did the accident and resulting injuries happen because of a defective product? Was the worker properly trained to work with the equipment he was handling at the time of the accident? Did the accident occur as a result of someone else's negligence? Were all required safety procedures in place? OSHA investigations for most of these workplace accident cases will usually delve into these issues. But those investigations could take several weeks or months to be completed.

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Nail guns are extremely useful to have around construction sites. However, according to recent reports nationwide, these handy pieces of equipment have also been a significant hazard. Nail guns are quick, air-powered and automatically discharge multiple nails at a time. According to an article in the Sacramento Bee about the danger of nail guns, most nail guns can fire 30 nails a minute and those nails can travel 490 feet per second. In some cases, nail guns can become a dangerous weapon.

A national report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) shows that the number of people affected by nail gun injuries adds up to 42,000 a year. That amounts to more than 100 people a day who are treated for nail gun injuries in emergency rooms across the United States. The cost of treating nail gun injuries is about $338 million a year in emergency medical care, rehabilitation and workers compensation, the CPSC study says.

In addition to operator inattention, serious nail gun accidents in Arizona also occur because of defective nail guns. Nail gun operators or even bystanders can be injured or killed when a nail gun is not used properly or when it malfunctions. Nail guns can cause head injuries, serious eye injuries, soft tissue injuries, serious infections, or even death. Employers also have the responsibility to train workers to use these tools properly.

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Arizona crane accidents can cause catastrophic injuries including head injuries, broken bones, electrocution or even death. All these injuries have tremendous financial, physical and emotional consequences to injured victims and their families. Crane accidents usually occur when loads are dropped, when a crane collapses, or when individuals are hit by materials that fall from the crane. Sometimes, a manufacturing or design defect in the crane can also cause a devastating accident.

According to a recent Fox News report, a crane operator at a hospital construction site sustained head injuries after a 150-foot crane with a 160-foot boom tipped over. The crane was apparently moving a piece of concrete, which collapsed and caused the boom to break. Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are trying to figure out what caused this accident. Thankfully, the construction worker did not suffer major or life-threatening injuries.

In such cases, injured workers are often eligible to seek compensation for medical expenses, cost of physical therapy, psychological counseling or other expenses associated with the injuries. Workers can also seek compensation for earnings lost as a result of losing their ability to work for an extended period of time. In the event of a fatal construction accident, the worker’s family can also seek compensation. However, Arizona workers compensation law is not the only source for reimbursement and compensation. In some cases, victims can look to both workers compensation and personal injury as a way to become fully reimbursed for their losses. However, it takes an experienced personal injury lawyer in Arizona to help determine if personal injury claims are available after a construction worker injury on the job site.

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Electrocution is a common occurrence in construction sites and a leading cause of construction site accidents in Phoenix and elsewhere in Arizona and the United States. Sometimes these construction site accidents occur as a result of the workers' error, but often these electrocutions, which can sometimes be fatal, also occur as a result of someone else's negligence.

According to a recent news report, two construction workers are in the hospital after they were shocked at a Phoenix work site. Fire officials say one of the men was in a 35-foot deep trench and was using a radio to give directions to a crane operator who was lowering a load into the trench. Both workers were shocked when the load swung into some power lines. The man who was operating the crane suffered several second- and third-degree burns. The man, who was working in the trench, also sustained injuries, but they were not as severe. Both were transported to an area hospital.

In Arizona construction site accidents, it is very important to conduct a thorough investigation and determine how or why the workplace accident occurred. The following questions are also critical to any construction accident investigation. Did the accident occur as a result of the workers' error? Did it happen because they did not receive sufficient training to do the job? Was the site properly secured? Did someone else's negligence cause the accident? These are questions that usually need to be answered in any construction accident case.

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Most Arizona construction accidents are easily preventable if government safety regulations are followed. These procedures are in place in order to prevent tragic construction site accidents like trench collapses, which are very often fatal to construction workers. A trench collapse is a classic example of a construction site accident that can be avoided by taking required safety precautions and by following federal safety procedures, including securing the work area.

A recent news report details a deadly construction accident where a worker suffocated to death in a trench collapse incident. Officials say the amount of dirt that fell on top of this worker was equivalent to a dump truck full of dirt. He died of compression asphyxia – death by suffocation. It took crews two and a half hours to dig the man out. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating this incident. The construction company could possibly face hefty fines if any violations are discovered.

In Arizona and in many other states, there are very specific industry and safety standards specifying the width and depth of excavations. These safety standards exist to prevent tragedies like this one. When a trench is dug, federal laws also require a foreperson to be physically present on the site to ensure that they adhere to these important safety standards. In cases where a construction worker is injured as a result of someone else's negligence, he may be entitled to additional damages.

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A number of construction site accidents in Arizona are caused by crane accidents. About one-fourth of all crane accidents are caused by cranes overturning because loads are not secured properly or because of improper assembly or disassembly. Crane accidents in Arizona can be devastating and often fatal because of the sheer weight of the equipment that can crush and kill a worker instantly.

Such a gruesome tragedy recently occurred at a bridge construction site when a boom snapped off a small crane and crushed the crane operator. According to an article, the 48-year-old construction worker was standing next to the crane and operating the hydraulic boom when 8 feet of steel gave way and crashed upon him. Investigators are still trying to figure out why the boom fell. The man was killed on the spot.

In many cases, these entirely preventable accidents occur because of the lack of proper construction site safety procedures. The news article states that the contractor overseeing the bridge reconstruction project has been cited by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for safety violations in the past. It will be interesting to see whether safety violations or lack of training played a part in this fatal construction accident. The deceased worker apparently worked for a sub-contractor.

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