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Family of fork lift operator settles workplace negligence case for $1.7 Million

The family of a forklift operator settles workplace accident wrongful death and negligence case in which worker died from asphyxiation during the course of his employment.

Injured Construction Worker Awarded Over $4.3 Million

Construction sites are dangerous places to work, but construction companies must take safety precautions for their workers. A recent case reported here involved a construction worker injured while working in a trench which collapsed and pinned him underneath the metal liner, causing him serious injuries.

Death in Sewickley Wastewater Treatment Plant Incident

Three injured and one dead apparently as a result of noxious fumes at Sewickley Wastewater Treatment Plant near Pittsburgh.

Workers Injured at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Plant

At least 15 workers injured earlier today at U.S. Steel's Clairton coke plant where flammable gas may have caused an explosion and fire in the plant's largest coke-making batter.

Serious burns suffered by U.S. Steel Clairton coke workers today

Names and injuries of the workers injured today have not been officially released, but details on the injuries are emerging. Some workers have suffered serious burns to their faces or bodies.

Carpenter Fell from Defective Scaffold | Jury Awards Verdict for Injuries

Were you were injured in a fall from scaffolding at a construction site? Get free information from the construction accident attorneys of Pittsburgh, PA. Selected as "Best Lawyers in America". They will hire the top investigators and experts and will pursue your case at no cost to you.

Injuries From Coil Stacker Accident on Construction Site Case Settles Before Trial

Construction site accidents can cause lasting injuries, or even death. It is important to find out if your accident was caused by unsafe working conditions. Contact the construction accident attorneys of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and have your case reviewed at no charge to you.

Settlement Reached from Two Falls on Consecutive Days

Two ironworkers fell from the same roof on two consecutive days at a construction site in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.  A settlement in the amount of $3.85 million was reached with the general contractor, R.E. Crawford Construction, Inc. and the construction manager, Zamias Services, Inc., of a project. 

Lavern Breon was lying steel decking on a roof when a coworker asked him to switch places.  He began to walk across the deck to the coworker, the deck slid out from under him and he fell 22 feet to the ground.  Mr. Breon was not wearing a harness for fall protection at the time of the accident.  He suffered fractures to his left foot, left leg and spinal injuries. 

Mr. Breon’s fall occurred on a Friday and Brian K. Phillips, Sr. was his replacement on the following Monday. 

Mr. Phillips was wearing a safety harness hooked by cables to anchor points.  However, he was forced to unhook the harness and move to another location because the cables were too short.  Mr. Phillips fell 22 feet to the ground, landing on his head.  He suffered massive brain trauma and was in coma for more than a month before dying.

The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants failed to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations as well as R.E. Crawford’s own safety manual.  They also alleged that the defendants were not properly trained in safety procedures and failed to take safety precautions even after Lavern Breon fell. 

Defendant R.E. Crawford stated that the construction manager was responsible for supervising and controlling the work done at the jobsite.

If you or someone you love has been in an accident at a construction site due to unsafe working conditions, call the construction accident attorneys of Pittsburgh, PA.

Driver’s Family Settles With Trucking Manufacturer

A cement truck carrying a cement mixer rolled over and killed the driver.  A wrongful death case was filed and settled for $3 million.

The truck blew a tire and struck a ditch in the road.  When the truck struck the ditch, the mixer, which was full of concrete and weighed approximately 40,000 pounds, came loose and crushed the roof of the cab.  The incident occurred in Northhampton County, Pennsylvania.

The truck, which was a 1999 S-Series “New England” model and manufactured by Oshkosh Truck Corporation, contained several design and manufacturing flaws.

The front pedestal was not strong enough to support the force of the steel drum in a low-speed crash, and the front pedestal and catwalk structure both collapsed because of low-force impact.

The cab, which was constructed of low-grade aluminum, should have included steel reinforcements and a roll bar or cage.  The cab on the prior S-Series model was made of steel.  However, the company used aluminum on new models in order to minimize weight and maximize the amount of concrete it could carry.

The steering column was also defective and did not collapse on impact.  Additionally, the drum could have included a safety loop to prevent it from detaching and the rear pedestal was not strong enough to withstand the force of the crash. 

For free information about construction accidents, see the construction accident attorneys of Pennsylvania.

Four Recent Deaths of Construction Workers from Falls

Within the last week, four separate construction-related falls have resulted in deaths.  The most recent accident occurred last Tuesday when a masonry worker fell thirteen stories from the roof of the Pennsylvanian apartment building in Downtown Pittsburgh.

The previous three incidents occurred in North Strabane, New Kensington and Monessen.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates safety requirements that protect against hazards like falling. There is an entire book of OSHA standards related to construction.  Employers are required to protect their workers from falls when they are working six feet or higher above an adjacent surface.

According to the area director at OSHA’s Pittsburgh office, falls account for nearly 50% of all fatalities in the construction industry.

OSHA investigates all workplace deaths and has started investigations on all four fatalities.

If you or someone you love has been in an accident at a construction site due to unsafe working conditions, call the construction accident attorneys of Pittsburgh, PA.

Workers Settle Injury Claims in Scaffolding Collapse

Two plasterers and a truck driver were injured when scaffolding collapsed at a construction site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The two plasterers were working on scaffolding as buckets of mud and stucco were being hoisted up with a pulley.  The movement of the hoisting and pulling, along with an inadequate number of tie-ins to counter balance the weight of the movement, caused the scaffolding to collapse.  The two men fell 12 to 14 feet onto a wooden deck below.  They sustained various injuries including acute strain and sprain of the cervical and lumbar spine, post-traumatic stress syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve compression, lumbar radiculopathy and sciatica.

The truck driver, who was making a delivery at the jobsite, was stuck when the scaffolding fell. The injuries he sustained include traumatic brain injury with closed head injury, right hip contusion, lumbar pain and a hematoma.

All three workers settled their claims for a total of $3.5 million.

For free information about construction accidents, see the construction accident attorneys of Pennsylvania.

Worker Settles Claim with Tank Manufacturer

An employee of a fire truck manufacturer in  Pennsylvania was injured in a work related accident when a tank collapsed on his left foot, which resulted in him losing two toes.

The incident occurred when the man was unloading a 3,500-gallon plastic truck tank using a two-legged bridge chain sling.  The rigging system, which called for 3 ½ inch bolts, used bolts that were ½ inch too short. 

The case was settled for $950,000.

For free information about construction accidents, see Pennsylvania's contruction accident attorneys.

Construction Accident Injures Man on Route 51

A construction accident occurred today, October 13, when a man working at a construction site in Pittsburgh was hit in the head with a cable.   The accident occurred along Route 51 near the West End Circle.  The man was taken to Allegheny General Hospital (AGH).