Overview of Personal Injury Case
Lee was a county inspector. His job was to visit buildings in construction and to inspect the work completed to confirm that it meet code requirements. Lee was a well-respected inspector and had worked for the county for many years.
He was assigned to inspect a residential project in the West Seattle neighborhood. He arrived on site and was directed to the top of the building to view and inspect the HVAC system. As he was walking along the roof deck, there was a step that was not properly marked, and it caused Lee to trip and stumble toward the temporary railings that had been installed.
Lee hit the railing and it gave way. The building code for temporary railings required that they withstand 240 lbs. and have several cross rails. These temporary railings did not come close to meeting the code requirements.
Personal Injuries Sustained From Site Accident
When the railing gave way, Lee fell one story onto a scaffold that was in place for the installation of siding. He bounced off the scaffold and then dropped two stories to the ground below. The fall caused significant damage to Lee’s shoulder, hip, and pelvis. He was rushed to Harborview Medical Center where he underwent several operations to repair his injuries.
Because of the nature of his injuries, Lee was confined to a hospital bed for several months. When he had recovered enough to begin rehabilitation, he was discharged from Harborview Medical Center and transferred to a local rehabilitation center.
Lee was an experienced hiker having hiked many long-distance trails, including the Pacific Coast Trail. Hiking is his passion. He put his entire heart and soul into his rehabilitation and recovery. He has continued his rehabilitation with the help of his family and hopes to return to the trails soon.
Investigation Completed By Experienced Personal Injury Law Firm
Coluccio Law was retained to investigate the incident and to find answers as to why the railing was not up to code. The General Contractor for the project immediately started pointing fingers as subcontractors on the project. While a common occurrence with construction site claims, under Washington State Law, a General Contractor has a non-delegable duty to provide all workers, including inspectors, with a safe workplace.
Building Code Requirements Not Met
The non-delegable duty includes making sure that all building code requirements are met by not only the General Contractor’s workers but also each subcontractor performing work on site. Our investigation determined that the framing contractor had failed to properly install the railings. The installation that they performed did not even come close to what was required.
Because of the subcontractor’s failure, Coluccio Law was not only able to obtain the General Contractor’s insurance policy limits but, also, the subcontractor’s insurance policy limits.
Top Personal Injury And Wrongful Death Law Firm
Coluccio Law is one of the Pacific Northwest’s top personal injury and wrongful death law firms. We have handled countless construction site accident claims on behalf of injured workers and their families.
How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help You?
A personal injury firm provides legal assistance to those hurt in an accident. Personal injury lawyers practice tort law, which encompasses both negligent and deliberate conduct. A personal injury lawyer can assist you in recovering compensation for your losses while also relieving you of the burden of dealing with an insurance claim.
Steps To Take After A Construction Site Accident
Compared to other sectors, construction work is quite risky and has a very high injury risk. Most of the time, workers’ compensation regulations will cover accidents that happen on the job. In exceptional circumstances, a construction worker who sustains an accident may need to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Regardless of your specific circumstance, there are some actions you should take after a construction injury:
- Get medical help right away if you’ve been hurt.
- Inform the manager of the work site or the supervisor about the accident.
- If you are able to do so, take pictures of the accident scene and any injuries received to document the incident.
- Obtain the contact information of any on-site witnesses.
- To talk about your legal options, get in touch with a qualified personal injury attorney.
- Participate in any investigations OSHA or other pertinent authorities undertake.
- Continue receiving medical care and go to any required therapy or rehabilitation appointments.
- Keep track of any accident-related costs, such as hospital bills, missed earnings, and other losses.
- Before accepting any settlement offers from insurance companies, exercise caution and speak with a lawyer.
- Follow safety procedures and notify management of any possible dangers to take preventive action against future incidents.
Personal Injury Law Firms For Construction Site Accidents
Personal injury law firms specialize in representing people who have been hurt in accidents on construction sites. These lawyers provide legal assistance to victims seeking restitution for their harms and associated losses.
It is crucial to select a respected, knowledgeable legal company with a proven track record of success in handling claims involving construction accidents.
At Coluccio Law – we are proud to serve our clients.
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