Construction Accidents and Wrongful Death
Construction workers face many potential hazards on a daily basis. Mistakes, lack of proper equipment, and poor training can lead to serious accidents or even death. When negligence is the cause of an accident and a preventable death occurs, a wrongful death attorney can help surviving family members recover compensation for pain and suffering.
At Burke Argos, attorneys Sean M. Burke and Jason N. Argos represent families dealing with construction accidents and wrongful death in Irvine, CA, and surrounding areas. If you believe your loved one’s death was caused by negligence and would like to learn more about your options for seeking damages, contact the attorneys of Burke Argos.
What Is Wrongful Death?
A wrongful death is a death caused by another person’s negligence. It can also be a death resulting from someone acting to intentionally cause harm.
At construction sites, wrongful deaths are more commonly caused by the negligence of an employer, coworker, or from the manufacturer of construction equipment or machinery.
Types of Construction Accidents that Can Result in Wrongful Death
Construction sites are full of many potential hazards, like heavy machinery, working on scaffolding at high elevations, and using potentially dangerous tools, like bandsaws. Because of the many possible hazards on construction sites, it’s important that workers are diligent and employers provide a safe work environment.
Sadly, accidents are common on construction sites. While not all result in serious injuries, many do and many end in fatalities. Some types of accidents that can cause a wrongful death include:
- Accidents with machinery: Construction workers must use a large variety of machinery ranging from power tools to construction vehicles while on the job. If machinery is defective or not properly used, it can result in serious injuries or even death.
- Slips and falls: Slips and falls on construction sites can be deadly, especially when falls are from scaffolding or other elevated structures. Falls may lead to a wrongful death if proper safety equipment wasn’t provided by an employer or if it was but malfunctioned.
- Electrocution: Working around power lines or with electrical machinery requires proper training and safety precautions as accidents involving electricity can lead to deadly electrocution injuries.
- Falling debris: Large, heavy materials are commonly moved around on construction sites. When large or heavy materials fall, they can cause serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, that may lead to death.
Who Can Seek Damages for a Wrongful Death?
Each state has its own guidelines as to who can file a wrongful death lawsuit. In Irvine, CA, certain surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit. This includes:
- The surviving spouse or domestic partner
- Surviving children of the decedent
- Grandchildren of the decedent if there are no surviving children
Other family members may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit if there isn’t a surviving spouse, children, or grandchildren. Stepchildren or a putative spouse may also be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit if they can show they were financially dependent on the decedent.
Contact the Attorneys of Burke Argos
If you have lost a loved one in a construction site accident and you believe it was a wrongful death, call our law firm in Irvine at (949) 644-3434 or contact us online to discuss whether a wrongful death lawsuit is the right resolution for you.