Construction Site Fatalities
Before saying anything else, we want you to know that our hearts go out to you, and your entire family in the midst of this profoundly painful and distressing situation. We can imagine that you are experiencing a wide range of conflicting emotions right now. We want you to know that we care deeply about your situation and are here to help you in any way we can. The worst thing that can happen to a family is to have someone killed by another person's careless or intentional actions. Nothing can be done to bring a loved one back.
While "hiring a lawyer" is perhaps the last thing the family wants to think about at a time like this, it is important for family survivors to consider retaining a construction accident wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible. The family most likely has been dependent upon that loved one for financial support and now, in addition to the emotional loss, may also face financial difficulties without that support. The law also imposes strict time limits in which to bring a claim. So, while the family needs considerable time for healing, waiting too long may result in losing the ability to bring a claim for the loss.
Constructions "Fatal Four"
Out of 4,251 worker fatalities in private industry in calendar year 2015, 874 or 20.5% were in construction―that is, one in five worker deaths last year were in construction. The leading causes of worker deaths on construction sites were falls, followed by electrocution, struck by object, and caught in-between. These "Fatal Four" were responsible for more than half (58.1%) the construction worker death in 2014, BLS reports. Eliminating the Fatal Four would save 508 workers' lives in America every year.
Falls — 349 out of 874 total deaths in construction in CY 2014 (39.9%)
Electrocutions — 74 (8.5%)
Struck by Object — 73 (8.4%)
Caught in-between — 12 (1.4%)
Top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards violated in FY2014
The following were the top 10 most frequently-cited standards by Federal OSHA in fiscal year 2014 (October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014):
Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501)
Hazard communication standard, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200)
Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
Respiratory protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134)
Powered industrial trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178)
Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)
Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment, general industry (29 CFR 1910.305)
Machinery and Machine Guarding, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.212)
Electrical systems design, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.303)
Who Can Bring A California Wrongful Death Suit ?
The California wrongful death statute (Code of Civil Procedure 377.60 ) allows the survivors of the deceased to seek compensation for lost support or services after the death of their loved ones. These survivors include spouses, children or parents, as well as any other relatives or adoptive siblings that were dependent on the deceased for financial or emotional support. IMPORTANT: There is a time limit for filing wrongful death lawsuits in California. Failure to file within this time limit can prohibit potential claimants from ever seeking compensation for their losses, so it is always advisable to discuss the matter as soon as possible with a construction site wrongful death lawyer.
If you have been injured in a California construction accident and believe you have a claim for your injuries, the Phillips Personal Injury may be able to help. To have a construction accident attorney review your case, we invite you to call us at 530-265-0186.