Readers of the San Mateo Injury Law Blog may have come across a post late last year, outlining the injuries sustained in a work accident on the California high-speed rail construction site. Two workers were hospitalized and a number of others were injured.
Unfortunately, another worker has gotten crushed at the site in another location recently. According to reports, a 48-year-old man was partially crushed by falling steel. Workers were using a crane to lift materials when the rigging failed. The rebar pinned the accident victim down and broke all his ribs, collarbone, arm and fractured his vertebrae, as well as other bones. His nephew claims the victim may now be a paraplegic as a result.
The injured worker is employed by a subcontractor on the rail project and has been employed in the industry for more than 10 years. The incident was reported to the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA), and they have opened an investigation with both the contractor and subcontractor. As a result, it is possible that more people are added to the inquiry. If any violations of workplace safety are found, then Cal/OSHA has six months to issue citations to employers.
A construction accident similar to that described above can leave workers with serious injuries, but when multiple parties are involved, they may try to shift the blame on to one another. The injured worker’s workers’ compensation claim can be delayed and much needed financial resources are not available on time. To understand how to navigate through the legalities involved, it might be beneficial to speak to an experienced attorney.