Construction workers face the risk of serious injury every day. The construction industry is the third most dangerous profession in the United States, accounting for over 20 percent of all work-related fatalities each year. Building collapses on construction sites are the most devastating of all construction accidents. When a building collapses on a construction site, workers, bystanders, people who live or work in nearby buildings, and pedestrians can be seriously injured.
The Delaware construction accident lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow have been helping injured construction workers claim compensation for over 25 years. They are committed to claiming the maximum amount of compensation available for medical bills, hospitalizations, prescription medication, physical and cognitive therapy, and lost wages related to their clients’ construction accident injuries.
A building collapse most commonly occurs on construction sites where new buildings are being erected or older buildings are being repaired or demolished. Any type of building collapse can result in a multitude of serious and fatal injuries for everyone working in the building and for those in the surrounding areas. Heavy materials, such as concrete and steel used in the foundation and structural supports of the building, can come crashing down on workers, often crushing them or trapping them, making recovery efforts difficult.
A poorly constructed or designed foundation for a building is a common cause of a building collapse. Architects, engineers, and construction companies must consider the weight of all building materials and construction equipment needed to sustain the building that is being erected, repaired, or even demolished. When the foundation is weak, the building is at extreme risk of collapse, sometimes during construction, as the building ages and the supports become weakened.
The quality of the materials used to construct or repair a building are essential for a safe structure. When low grade wood, steel, or cement are used in construction, the supports can fail to sustain the weight of the building’s design. When wood supports crack and deteriorate or when steel beams rust, they become weak and unstable. Cracks and small holes in cement foundations also weaken the structure. Once the basic support structure begins to weaken, the building is likely to collapse.
While most building collapses occur during the construction and repair of a facility, there is a substantial risk of collapse when buildings are being prepared for demolition. Heavy machinery is used to break down walls and remove bricks and steel supports. If the demolition process is not properly executed, the building may collapse unexpectedly, causing injury to those working within the building or the surrounding area. The demolition of a building needs to be as carefully planned as the construction of a building to avoid serious harm to those on the job site.
A building collapse is the most dangerous type of accident that can occur on a construction site. The weight of the materials and the shards of glass and other sharp objects that come crashing down can cause catastrophic injuries. Workers inside of the structure, those working peripherally around the building, those living or working near the collapse, and pedestrians traveling close to the construction site can be seriously or fatally injured by falling debris.
The most devastating injuries occur to those working inside of a building when it collapses. Head, neck, and back injuries can happen when workers are crushed with heavy wood, steel, or cement objects. Others can become trapped within debris that can weigh thousands of pounds. Broken bones, severe cuts and lacerations, and internal organ damage can result in lifelong pain and suffering or paralysis. In severe cases where a victim is trapped beneath debris, amputations of limbs can be the only way to extract the victim.
Falling debris can shoot out when the building collapses and strike nearby buildings, making them weak and at risk of collapse. Pedestrians traveling by foot, bicycle, or in cars can be crushed when heavy objects fall on them. Even workers operating heavy construction equipment on the job site can be injured when large pieces of the building fall on their equipment. Injured victims of a building collapse often require long recovery periods that include surgeries, physical and cognitive therapy, and rest, as broken bones and bodies heal.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a construction accident, call the Delaware construction accident lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow at 302-407-0827, or contact us online to schedule a consultation today. Our offices are in Wilmington, Bear, and Milford, Delaware, and we proudly serve clients throughout the state, including the areas of Elsmere and Seaford.