Wrongful Death and Construction Accidents By Rocky Walton on September 28, 2019

Construction workers on scaffoldingAccording to numbers from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 4,674 worker fatalities in private industry were killed on the job in 2017. Of that number, 20.7 percent were in the construction industry. That means 1 in 5 worker deaths in America involve people who work in construction. This should help you understand the dangers of this line of work and why legal advocates are so important for construction workers and their families.

Skilled Arlington, TX attorney Roger “Rocky” Walton has helped numerous loved ones file wrongful death lawsuits after they’ve experienced unacceptable tragedy. We’d like to consider how a lawyer can help hold construction companies and other parties accountable for negligent actions that result in fatal injuries.

The Fatal Four in the Construction Industry

In addition to the statistics we shared above, we should highlight the so-called Fatal Four. These are the four kinds of accidents that cause the most deaths in the construction industry every year. The Fatal Four are as follows:

  • Falls - 381 construction worker deaths in 2017
  • Struck by Objects - 80 construction worker deaths in 2017
  • Electrocution - 71 construction worker deaths in 2017
  • Caught-In or Between Objects - 50 construction worker deaths in 2017

Determining the Cause of the Construction Accident

After losing a loved one in a construction accident, it’s crucial to determine the cause of the incident. The team at our Arlington law firm will go over all available evidence, looking at the construction accident from all angles to determine if someone or some party was at fault.

Working conditions may have been unsafe, or heavy equipment used at the site may have been malfunctioning or poorly maintained. Perhaps inexperienced individuals were performing jobs that they should not have, leading to the fatal incident. Even poor weather could play a factor in an accident and whether or not someone should be held accountable.

Who Can Be Held Liable?

This will depend on the nature of the accident. In the case of unsafe working conditions, supervisors at the construction site could be held responsible for putting workers in harmful or deadly situations. If any equipment used is to blame, the renter, distributor, or manufacturer of that machinery could be held liable.

This is something we can discuss in more detail while going over your case and the circumstances of your loved one’s fatal accident. If no one can be held liable for your loved one’s death, we can help you understand for worker’s compensation death benefits as well as the appeal process for denied worker’s comp claims.

Legal Damages in a Wrongful Death Case

In wrongful death cases, we will seek both compensatory and punitive damages.

Compensatory damages will cover all material and financial losses associated with the death of a loved one. This includes funerary expenses, emergency medical care prior to death, emotional pain and suffering, and lost earnings.

Punitive damages will be used to punish the negligent party for their actions that resulted in the death of a loved one. These damages are not related to any material losses.

Contact Our Law Firm

For more information about your legal rights following the loss of a loved one, be sure to contact a trusted accident attorney. The law firm of Roger "Rocky" Walton, P.C. can be reached in Arlington by phone at (817) 438-2697. We are here to help.

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Roger 'Rocky' Walton

The Law Firm of Roger "Rocky" Walton, P.C.

The Law Firm of Roger "Rocky" Walton, P.C., has been exclusively representing personal injury clients since 1987. He is proud to be affiliated with top legal organizations, including:

  • Texas Trial Lawyers Association
  • American Association for Justice
  • Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Tarrant County Bar Association 

If you are looking for legal representation from a top-rated lawyer in Arlington, call or text our law firm at (817) 429-4299 today! We serve clients in Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, and surrounding areas.

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