A very significant injury that may occur in construction accidents is building collapses. Building collapses can occur for various reasons:
- Improper design or engineering
- Lack of proper worker training
- Defective materials
- Defective machinery
Houston has seen a steady increase in building construction over the past decade. Unfortunately, this boom in constructions has resulted in significantly reported injuries. For example, there have been several instances of building collapse cases in Houston over the past few years:
- 2014- dozens of people injured when a detached garage collapsed in a Houston suburb;
- 2015- multiple injuries reported in a Houston scaffolding collapse;
- 2016- man airlifted and injured in an apartment collapse;and
- 2017- 15 injured in a five story building collapse.
In most of these cases, workers were very badly injured. The construction industry was responsible for 19.4% of all worker deaths in 2015. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) dictates the guidelines for the construction industry. Lack of fall protection remains a leading causes of death in the construction industry.
It is important to consult with an attorney who has extensive experience to determine the cause of the building collapse. In these cases, there may be multiple culpable parties. For example, the architects or engineers may be responsible for negligent design of the building. Property owners may be responsible for failure to provide safety equipment. Contractors or subcontractors may be responsible for the lack of safety rules or proper training of workers on the premises.
If you have been injured in a building collapse accident, you may be entitled to the following compensation:
- Past medical expenses;
- Future medical expenses;
- Physical impairment;
- Lost wages;
- Loss of earning capacity;and
- Pain and suffering.
Our law firm has extensive experience assisting clients who have been injured in construction accident cases. We work with some of the best experts in the industry to ensure that your case is properly handled. Please call our law firm for a free consultation.