$10.7M Riverside, California Construction Accident Verdict Awarded to Worker Injured in Fall
A California jury has awarded worker Brian Richeson $10,717,498.39 for his Riverside County construction accident injuries. The 46-year-old fell 20-feet when he stepped on a plywood platform that wasn't secured in 2008. The defendant in the case was Tovey/Shultz Construction.
Richeson's injuries to his shoulder and back were so severe that he had to undergo multiple surgeries. He continues to experience weakness and chronic pain and suffers from partial paralysis and his doctors believe his condition will continue to grow worse. Because of the Riverside personal injury accident, Richeson can no longer work as a construction worker.
Because the jury found Richeson to be partly at fault, they reduced is verdict by 50%.
Construction Accident Falls
Construction accident falls are the cause of more than 300 deaths and many more injuries each year. Many falls could have been prevented if only the proper safety measures had been implemented. Common types of construction falls include roof falls, elevator shaft falls, falls through holes in the ground, scaffolding falls, ladder falls, and falls during a crane collapse.
Fall accidents can result in serious injuries that can virtually end a worker's career if not kill them. That's why there are federal and state safety regulations that need to be followed to minimize the risk of construction falls. Broken bones, head trauma, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and crush injuries can result during a fall.
Unfortunately, working at a construction site is a dangerous business, which is why safety measures must be followed. General contractors and subcontractors are legally obligated to provide workers with a reasonably safe construction site. This includes the set up of safe working conditions while ensuring that the proper protocols and procedures are followed and the correct safety equipment and protection gear are being used.
Although a worker cannot sue his/her employer--California workers' compensation law mandates employers pay work injury benefits and disability and death benefits in the event of a work accident or fatality--there may be third parties that can/should be held liable, such as a subcontractor, a contractor, the owner of the construction site, architects, engineers, the construction manager, or the manufacturer of a defective crane or another piece of construction equipment that failed, that played a role in the injury accident.
If you or someone you love was seriouslt injured in a Riverside County construction accident, there is no reason why you shouldn't receive both your California workers' compensation benefits and personal injury benefits from all liable third parties.
Construction Accidents, Justia
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Preventing Construction Falls, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
More Blog Posts:
Huntington Beach Construction Worker Dies in Trench Collapse, California Injury Lawyers Blog, April 27, 2009
Toddler Attending Los Angeles Lakers Game Dies After Falling 50 Feet from Staples Center Luxury Seats, California Injury Lawyers Blog, November 22, 2010
Rancho Santa Margarita Plant Explosion Kills Two Workers and Injures Two Others, California Injury Lawyers Blog, April 3, 2009
