A worker was fatally injured the morning of Dec. 16 after a construction accident at the retail district under construction in the 298-acre development that includes the SoFi stadium in Inglewood. According to a CBS news report, the man in his 30s was pronounced dead from his injuries.
Fatal Worksite Accidents
Officials with the California Division of Occupational Health and Safety (Cal-OSHA) said that the worker was crushed in an accident involving a crane. The agency has launched an investigation into how the fatal construction accident occurred. CBS reports that this is the second fatality this year at the development, which will eventually include millions of square feet of retail, office space, restaurants, homes, parks and more surrounding the stadium.
In June, a SoFi stadium construction worker died after falling 120 feet from the roof. In that case, Cal-OSHA issued five citations with proposed penalties of more than $54,000 to two companies in connection with that death. The companies have appealed the fines. The worker’s family has filed lawsuits against several companies in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Construction Fatalities and Liability Issues
According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), out of 4,779 worker fatalities in private industry in the calendar year 2018, 1,008 or 21.1% were in construction. This means that one in five worker deaths in 2018 were in construction. The leading causes of fatal accidents in the construction industry were falls, followed by being struck by an object, electrocution and caught-in/between. These “fatal four” were responsible for more than half (58.6%) of all construction deaths in 2018.
Construction workers who are injured in worksite accidents are typically eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, in addition to that, they or the deceased workers’ families may be able to file lawsuits against third parties whose actions or lack of action may have caused or contributed to the incident. Such third parties include general contractors, sub-contractors, property owners and/or managers, manufacturers of defective products, etc.
Suppose you have lost a loved one in a construction accident. In that case, it is essential that you seek the counsel of an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who can remain on your side, fight for your rights and help ensure that you receive maximum compensation for your tremendous losses.
Source: https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/12/17/construction-worker-dies-in-crane-accident-at-sofi-stadium-retail-district-development/
