For many drivers in California, road construction can be viewed as an annoyance. However, construction workers are often putting their lives at risk as they attempt to make road improvements. Unfortunately, a construction accident in another state has resulted in a fatality.
The incident reportedly happened at a road construction site around 11 a.m. on a day in January. According to reports, a male worker, described as in his 60s, was pinned between a barrier and an excavator. Reports indicate that the worker was no longer trapped when rescue workers arrived. He was transported to the hospital with severe injuries.
The victim was reportedly an employee of Hamilton Construction. The company has since released a statement indicating that safety is a priority and proclaiming its willingness to cooperate with subsequent investigations. Construction was halted in the aftermath of the accident.
Unfortunately, a construction accident such as this is not an isolated event; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that of the 5,000 people killed in 2018 in public workspaces, 1,000 of the victims were construction workers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says that being caught between something, as appears to have been the case in this incident, is one of the “fatal four” construction-related incidents. Often these accidents can leave victims — including surviving family members — suffering from physical, financial and emotional hardships. To help ease the burden following an accident, employers in California and across the country are required to provide workers’ compensation insurance benefits; an attorney with experience with such cases can help victims seek the compensation they deserve.