Just a few weeks ago in May, two construction workers were trapped in a trench when the trench collapses around 1 p.m. in the afternoon. According to a report by the Times Herald, the men were working on a project at the Valley Forge Sewer Authority when the dirt wall of the trench just gave way, trapping the two men under a pile of dirt.
After emergency responders pulled both men from the trench, they noticed that the men had both been injured in the collapse. They were each taken to local hospitals; one man was suffering breathing problems, and the other from injuries to his leg.
One trench worker told reporters that there had been other collapses since he had been assigned to work on the trench a few months ago. At the time the article was published, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was on the way to determine if the workplace was indeed safe at the time of the accident and to conduct an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Although the accident occurred on-site at the Valley Forge Sewer Authority, no Valley Forge Sewer Authority workers were present during the incident. The two injured workers were sub-contractors.
Maryland Workplace Accidents
With all the construction going on around the Maryland and DC areas, there are bound to be a number of accidents involving construction workers. Indeed, construction workers are mere feet away from speeding cars, often while operating heavy and dangerous equipment, and also work long hours.
However, construction workers are not the only ones who can potentially be injured in these dangerous construction accidents. Oftentimes pedestrians or motorists have the chance of being injured in accidents involving the negligence of construction workers as well.
Liability in Workplace Accidents
Just because an accident occurs at work does not mean that the injured party is out of luck. However, it also does not mean that the workplace is automatically responsible. The determination of fault depends specifically on the facts of each individual case. That is why having an experienced Washington DC injury lawyer on your side from the very beginning is crucial to a successful personal injury case.
Employers have a duty to provide safe workplaces for their employees. When an injury occurs at work, the natural first place to look for liability is the employer. However, there are many kinds of accident in which a third party is liable to the injured employee.
Whether you were injured on the job or while on another’s property through no negligent actions of your own, there was likely a party who could have prevented your injuries but didn’t.
Have You Been Injured in a Washington DC Workplace Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Washington, D.C. workplace accident, you should speak to an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Depending on the facts of your case, there may be multiple parties liable to you for your injuries. To speak with a dedicated Washington, D.C. personal injury attorney about your case, click here, or call Lebowitz & Mzhen at 410-654-3600 today to schedule a free initial consultation.
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