On Wednesday morning, a construction accident occurred in Mesa as crews worked on the new State Route 24 Gateway Freeway. The incident left one worker dead and another seriously injured and in the hospital.
Four men were working on a bridge for the freeway which will connect the Loop 202 with Ellsworth Road. At about 5:45 a.m. and while they were removing some cribbing, some bridge supports collapsed on two workers. One, a 43-year-old Peoria resident, died while a 20-year-old man suffered serious injuries. The other two workers were not hurt and did not require medical treatment.
The men worked for a contractor out of Utah on the project and were removing temporary restraining walls, known as cribbing, on Wednesday. The use of cribbing is common in concrete construction and holds the concrete in place while it dries. Once the concrete has hardened, the cribbing is removed and discarded. The supports are separate from the concrete itself so in this case, though the supports collapsed, the ramp and bridge were not damaged.
Construction is one of the most dangerous professions and unfortunately one of the jobs with the highest number of fatalities. Though rules and regulations governing construction sites exist and are designed to promote safety, accidents still happen and people still get hurt. These injuries can be severe as construction sites routinely have heavy equipment, large excavated areas, overhead product and material, and any number of employers and companies.
When injured in a construction accident, it can be difficult to determine who is at fault and whether you have a claim for your injuries. This is one reason it is a good idea to speak with a professional and to learn about your legal rights.
At Abels & Annes, P.C., we are Phoenix construction accident lawyers who know the law and know victim’s rights. We can help you sort out your accident and tell you whether you have a case for your damages, including any injuries you sustained. If you have been hurt, you want an experienced lawyer on your side, and that is where we can help.
The lawyers at Abels & Annes, P.C. handle only personal injury claims, including all construction accident claims. We only work for victims and we never charge a fee unless we make a recovery for our client. If you have been injured in a construction incident, call us today at (602) 819-5191 or toll free at (855) PHX-LAWYER and let us provide you with a free case consultation. We have a lawyer available 24 hours a day so please call now.
Prior Blog Entries:
Famous Journalist Michael Hastings Killed in Car Accident, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published June 19, 2013.
Phoenix Launches New Pedestrian Safety Campaign, Phoenix Injury Lawyer Blog, published June 18, 2013.
Resources:
Bridge supports collapse at freeway construction site; 1 dead, 1 injured, by Catherine Holland, azfamily.com, published June 19, 2013.