Last month, a construction worker was killed when a 35-foot piece of rebar collapsed at the site of a future high-rise building on the University of California San Diego campus. The reinforced steel frame struck 32-year-old-father Sergio Cruz in the head, killing him and injuring four others. Cruz and two other workers were taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital, where Cruz passed away shortly after his arrival.
CONSTRUCTION WORK CAN BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS
All of the injured construction workers were employees of Clark Construction, the company hired to complete the North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood, a $490 million construction project. The Clark Construction website insists that safety is the company’s top priority and that “all accidents are preventable…through proper planning and training, employee engagement and empowerment, and constant vigilance.” While this may be true, construction worker injury happens every day on job sites all over the country. Regardless of how careful a person is, construction work is extremely hazardous, and construction workers are at risk.
SAN DIEGO CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY BOOMING
One need only drive through downtown San Diego to see that the construction industry is booming. New high-rise buildings change the skyline every year, and public improvement projects are around every corner. In fact, even though the San Diego construction industry employs over 80,000 workers, construction companies are having a hard time filling jobs. When worker shortages happen, it usually results in longer hours for those working on current projects, increasing the risk of construction worker injury. Even in normal conditions, construction work is hazardous and workers are often at risk for injury—or even death.
Unfortunately, the devastating accident that took the life of Sergio Cruz was one of many that have already happened this year, and that continue to happen every year, despite safety laws and regulations. Worker deaths in construction are on the rise, and have been for a number of years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry accounted for over 20% of all worker fatalities in 2017.
“The construction industry accounted for over 20% of all worker fatalities in 2017. ”
— Bureau of Labor Statistics
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
Construction workers who are injured on the job are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits to help pay their medical expenses and make up for their lost wages. When a worker dies due to a job-related injury, their dependents are eligible for workers’ compensation death benefits. While there is nothing that can soothe the pain from the loss of a loved one, workers’ compensation can help pay for funeral and burial expenses, as well as wage loss benefits to help shoulder the financial burden of the lost income. But the workers’ compensation system is complex and can be difficult to navigate without the help of an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer.
A construction site can be a breeding ground for on the job injuries. If you suffer an injury while working at a construction site in San Diego, contact The Law Office of Matthew Russell.
TOP-RATED WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ATTORNEYS IN SAN DIEGO FOR CONSTRUCTION SITE WORKER INJURY
At The Law Office of Matthew Russell, our mission is to help injured workers and their families get the compensation they deserve after a work-related injury or death. The types of workers’ compensation construction worker cases we manage involve all sectors of the industry. So whether you’re a construction worker, construction foreman, building inspector, carpenter, electrician, civil engineer, roofer, painter, site manager, welder, drywall installer, or general laborer who has suffered an injury at work from job-related duties, we can help you receive the maximum benefits you’re entitled to.
For more information about workers’ compensation, or to find out what types of workers’ compensation benefits you’re eligible for, call us at (619) 544-1506 for a free consultation today.