Arizona Construction Accident Lawyer Blog

According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 969 fatalities involving construction accidents in the country in 2008. There is no question that construction accidents cause numerous deaths and serious injuries in the United States. There are several reasons why construction accidents occur. There are also many ways by which workers can get injured while at a construction accident site. However, there are a few types of commonly occurring construction accidents. These are accidents that can be entirely prevented, but usually take place because of some type of negligence or failure to follow safety procedures.

These are some of the most common types of construction accidents:

• Falls are the most common types of accidents that occur at Arizona construction sites and are responsible for the most number of fatalities in the construction industry as a whole. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), one-third of all construction accident fatalities are caused by falls.


• Trench collapses can also be extremely hazardous to workers. A trench collapse can be caused by improper shoring, lack of supervision or large vehicles parked near the excavation.


• Electrocution accidents in Arizona can occur as a result of overhead or buried power lines at a construction site.

Continue reading "Tucson, Arizona Personal Injury Lawyer Discusses Common Types of Construction Accidents" »

Trench collapses are one of the most common causes of construction site accidents in Arizona and elsewhere in the nation. According to a news report in the Shelby Star, a 30-year-old construction worker sustained fatal injuries after the dirt collapsed around him at a sewer line construction site. The man apparently fell into the hole. Workers rushed to dig him out of the collapsed trench. The worker was transported to an area hospital where he died shortly after the construction site accident.

Cave-ins are a deadly trenching hazard. There are also other dangers that lurk in trenches including asphyxiation due to lack of oxygen in a confined space, inhalation of toxic fumes, drowning, electrocution and explosions. In fact, the fatality rate for excavation work is 112 percent higher than the rate for general construction. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that workers in trenches and excavations be protected and that safety and health programs address the variety of dangers they face on the job. Trench collapses may be caused by lack of protective systems, unsafe access or exits, and failure to properly inspect the trench.

Continue reading "Injury Law Addresses Construction Site Trench Collapse Wrongful Death" »

Trench collapse accidents are among the most common types of construction site accidents that occur in Arizona and elsewhere in the nation. These accidents can result in devastating personal injuries or death to workers. However, the unfortunate fact is that these trench collapse accidents can be easily prevented by following the safety standards spelled out by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which monitors and investigates workplace accidents and injuries in the United States including construction site accidents.

According to a recent news report, a worker sustained a fractured leg and a broken pelvis when a dirt trench wall fell on him when he was helping to put down concrete sewer pipes. The worker was trapped in the trench because of his injuries. He was safely removed from the trench and treated for serious injuries. OSHA officials are investigating this incident. Officials issued a citation to the contracting firm for a safety violation that resulted in the accident, specifically, the absence of shoring in the area of the trench where the dirt wall fell.

Continue reading "Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help Victims of Trench Collapse Accidents File Injury Claims" »

A Phoenix Arizona construction site accident has injured a worker after he fell into an 8-foot deep trench. According to a Fox News report, the construction worker fell into a trench near the intersection of 7th Avenue and Buckeye in Phoenix. The man was apparently standing on top of a truck load of pipes when he lost his balance and fell into the trench. He was rushed to a local hospital with serious injuries, but his condition was later listed as "stable."

Construction site accidents occur due to a variety of reasons depending on the type of job that is being performed at the time. Defective or malfunctioning equipment, slip and fall injuries, electrocution, or injuries caused by live wires, falling objects, trench collapse, scaffold collapse or fires and explosions may all cause serious injuries in a construction accident. These accidents may occur as a result of someone else's negligence or the worker's own lack of training. Whatever the cause, construction accidents can be devastating to a worker and his family, causing life-threatening conditions, lifelong disabilities or disfigurement. These injuries could affect the worker's ability to work in the future, leaving him and his family without income or money to pay for quality medical or long-term care.

Continue reading "Phoenix Arizona Construction Site Accident Attorneys Help Injury Victims" »

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.

Continue reading "Construction Worker Killed in Trench Collapse" »

Those looking at the level of risk in the field of construction may often not be thinking about outdoor situations. There is a large potential risk in trenching and excavating operations, whether they are being done at a construction operation in Arizona or anywhere else in the U.S. When workers suffer injuries in avoidable accidents during excavating or related activities, construction accident lawyers must work to establish responsibility and show how lax safety standards resulted in unfortunate situations.

One of the more extreme recent cases of fatal accidents from slipshod excavation practices comes from a July 8 Detroit Free Press report that indicates a construction firm is facing possible litigation and fines resulting from a fatal sinkhole accident that killed a 36-year-old worker on July 7.

The report indicates that prior to the construction accident death, the company in question was already under investigation by the State of Michigan’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which delivered 11 citations after a March inspection of operations. One citation involved a lack of qualified personnel inspecting trenches; another addressed possibly improper sloping of trenches.

The Detroit Free Press story also indicates officials in the state of Michigan are working to ascertain what was to blame for the July incident. These kinds of accidents, which happen all across the country, are often scrutinized by professional injury and worker’s compensation lawyers and officials to determine the cause of an unfortunate, often tragic event. Each state has its own methods and agencies for looking into liability from unsafe business practices, whether in excavating, digging or any other construction field where cutting corners can have disastrous consequences.

Continue reading "Fatal Sinkhole Accident Feeds Probe of Excavating Firm" »

In a recent report about a man who died in trench accident, the chairwoman of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said that she believed OSHA’s enforcement is weak. The Phoenix construction site accident attorneys at the Arizona personal injury law firm Breyer Law Offices P.C. see evidence of OSHA’s lax safety enforcement on a regular basis. At Breyer Law, we help construction accident victims and their families receive the compensation they deserve to help with medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, and burial expenses.

Celeste Monforton, chairwoman of the Occupational Health & Safety Section of the American Public Health Association, recently said that OSHA penalties don’t appear to have a strong deterrent effect for companies taking safety shortcuts to save money and endangering the lives of workers. She added that OSHA’s enforcement of workplace safety violations is too weak, and the penalties that OSHA imposes on violators are “a joke” in comparison to other violations.

"It’s not that OSHA isn’t doing the job. It’s the penalties authorized by Congress that put OSHA in that situation," said Monforton, who is also an assistant research professor at George Washington University. "What does it say about our respect for our workers and workers’ lives when the average OSHA penalty for serious violations is $900, compared to an EPA Clean Water Act violation, which is $25,000 per violation, per day?" she said. "It’s not OSHA’s responsibility to make sure workers are safe; it’s the employers," she said.

These statements provide several good reasons why it is important to have the assistance of an experienced Arizona construction accident lawyer if you or someone you care for has been injured or killed in a construction accident. They will help hold those responsible for the accident accountable for their actions and help prevent others from being hurt or killed on the job.

Continue reading "OSHA Chairwoman Says that OSHA Safety Enforcement is Weak" »

Workers performing their duties below ground level in Arizona must deal with the risks of collapse and suffocation every single day. The Arizona trench accident lawyers at Breyer Law Offices P.C. have helped the victims of trench collapses and their families receive the compensation they deserve to help with medical expenses, funeral expenses and other trench collapse accident-related expenses. If you or someone you care for has been injured or killed when a trench collapsed, the Arizona personal injury attorneys may be able to help you through this difficult period of your life.

According to a report about a trench construction accident, a soggy trench wall collapsed and suffocated a worker to death on May 6, 2009, while he was working on a 15-foot-deep trench. The day before the fatal trench accident, a city inspector had come on a routine inspection of the construction site and told the contractor that the trench was not properly secured. The accident victim was a subcontractor working on the construction of a new water tower just before 8 a.m. when part of the trench’s wall fell in on him and buried him in mud. Rescuers recovered the man’s body five hours later.

The construction death accident is currently being investigated by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health Administration and local police officials. In many cases, trench accidents occur because proper safety procedures are not followed and the lives of workers are put at risk.

Continue reading "Worker Suffocates in Trench Collapse Accident" »

Holding negligent Arizona construction companies responsible for the injuries they cause is a key part of injury claims brought by top Phoenix injury lawyers. However, the effort to stop unsafe construction practices and prevent unnecessary injuries must go beyond the borders of Arizona. Top level injury lawyers throughout the nation are called upon and needed to help construction workers after suffering preventable injuries or construction accident death.

According to a recent article, a construction company is being investigated by OSHA following a trench accident that claimed the lives of four workers in September 2008. OSHA has proposed nearly $202,000 in fines against the company for two alleged serious violations and three alleged willful violations of the OSH Act of 1970. The four workers were killed when a trench they were working in collapsed, trapping and suffocating the workers.

Charles Adkins—an OSHA administrator investigating the accident—said, "There is no excuse for this accident and these workers did not need to lose their lives. It is appalling to realize there are companies that would allow, or even require, their employees to enter excavations without having cave-in protection. It is imperative that employers take the necessary steps to eliminate hazards and provide a safe working environment for all of their employees to prevent accidents like this from occurring." The company has 15 business days from the receipt of the citations to comply with OSHA’s fines or contest the findings before an independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

As you can see, too many construction workers in Arizona and other states are working in dangerous conditions that could cause death and serious injury. In the aftermath of an Arizona construction accident, the victim’s family is often left without their primary breadwinner. Their unstable financial situation is then exacerbated by the pile of accident-related bills. In those moments, an experienced Tuscon construction accident attorney can be a very helpful resource for answering questions and helping families receive the financial compensation they deserve.

If you or a member of your family has suffered an injury or been killed in a construction accident, whether it is trench collapse or other matter, the experienced Arizona construction accident attorneys at Breyer Law Offices, P.C., may be able to help. They have helped countless construction accident victims and their families recover from these unfortunate, and often completely avoidable, incidents. This experience can be a huge asset when you need it the most. To schedule a free consultation with Arizona's skilled construction accident lawyers, contact the Arizona personal injury law firm Breyer Law Offices, P.C., today at 602.978.6400.

Arizona families are far too often faced with tragedy when their family member is severely hurt – or in some cases even killed – while working on a construction job. Plumbers, electricians, framers, and every other type of construction worker are at risk. When tragedy strikes and a family member is badly hurt on the job, finding a lawyer that knows that they are doing and has experience in personal injury claims is vital. Without the help of an accident lawyer, construction workers are less likely to receive all of the compensation to which they are entitled under Arizona injury law.

Sometimes, tragedy can strike in unexpected ways. A construction worker using a saw to cut a pipe in a trench was killed after the saw kicked back and struck him in the neck, according to a recent Associated Press news report. The worker was working for an excavating company, which was building a water pump. He was apparently using a large, gas-powered saw to cut through a water main when the trench accident occurred. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials are investigating the construction accident death, which is normal procedure to make sure that the company did not violate safety procedures. This same company reportedly received 11 OSHA citations for life-threatening violations involving a trench project in September. OSHA characterized those violations, which totaled up to $700,000, as intentional and that it showed "plain indifference" to federal workplace safety regulations.

Numerous construction accidents in Arizona occur each year as a result of unsafe workplace practices. These safety violations may include unstable scaffolds or structures, electrocution, auto accidents, slips and falls, and injuries because of machinery. Construction accidents can also occur as a result of malfunctioning or defective equipment. In such cases, the manufacturer of the defective product or another party that failed to properly maintain that equipment can be held liable.

If you or a loved one has been involved in an Arizona construction site accident, please call an experienced Phoenix construction accident attorney at Breyer Law to schedule a free consultation. Our successful team has represented Arizona personal injury victims for 12 years and we would be more than happy to provide a free a confidential case evaluation in your case. Even if you do not know if you want to bring a claim, we strongly encourage you to call any of the top Arizona injury lawyers you can find to make sure you know the answers to the questions (and even find out answers to questions you did not know existed!) before losing out on rights that are there for your legal protection.

The best Arizona construction accident and injury lawyers are often faced with proving the liability of third parties beyond just the fault of the employer of the injured Arizona construction worker. We see many reports of dangerous construction conditions leading to tragic injuries and wrongful death in construction zones, including the ever-dangerous trench situations.

A recent trench accident that resulted in the construction accident deaths of four workers on September 12, 2008 has led to a fine and citation issued by OSHA for alleged violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act according to this report. During the agency’s investigation, they found that a Construction company had been guilty of three alleged willful and two alleged serious violations of the act in connection with the trench collapse.

Agencies such as OSHA help protect workers from all sorts of construction site accidents including trench collapse accidents but regrettably, many companies still cut corners and put their workers’ lives at risk. Trench collapse accidents can be especially deadly as workers can be suddenly buried under tons of dirt and many suffocate before they can be rescued. These accidents devastate families and in many cases, could have been avoided if the companies had provided adequate protection for their workers. Often times, it is not the employer for the injured worker who was at fault, but a separate employer who was reckless and led to the injury. This “third party” employer can be held responsible.

These types of accidents also occur in Arizona and other states and cause economic hardship for victims’ families. If you or someone you care for has been injured or killed in an Arizona trench collapse accident or another type of Arizona construction accident, the Arizona trench collapse accident attorneys at Breyer Law Offices, P.C., may be able to help. For a free consultation with our experienced Arizona trench collapse accident lawyers, call us today at 602.978.6400.