Recent Posts in Construction Accidents Category

A plaintiff filed a wrongful death suit last week over the death of her grandson, who was killed while unloading a truck filled with gravel.  In her complaint, she names a truck driver, his employer and the quarry that filled the truck with gravel.

On April 25, the quarry company loaded the driver's truck with a little over 33,000 pounds of gravel.  The driver complained the truck was overloaded, but the company refused to remove the excess.

The driver, an employee for a construction company asked the plaintiff's grandson and one of his friends to help him unload the truck.  In return, he paid them each $5.  While unloading, however, the dump bed became unbalanced and tipped onto the boy killing him instantly.

The suit names the truck driver as directly liable for the boy's death since he both drove the truck and allowed unqualified workers to help him unload.  His employer is also named since the driver was working within the statute of his employment when the accident occurred.  Finally, the quarry could bear some responsibility since they allowed the truck bed to be overfilled, which may have contributed to it tipping over during the unloading process.

This case is a tragic reminder to always take proper safety precautions when dealing with construction equipment and materials.  Accidents do happen, but they are often worse when necessary safety procedures are ignored.  If you were injured on the job or on a construction site, call our offices at Page Cagle in St. Louis today as you may be entitled to compensation.  Our experienced Construction Accident and Workers' Compensation Attorneys are available 24/7 for a free consultation.  Contact us today.

A construction accident along Highway 65 this week took the life of a 53-year-old Missouri resident.

The victim was standing next to a tractor-trailer when the semi began to pull forward.  At that point, he fell under the wheels of the trailer and was run over.  He died at the scene.

After investigation, a patrol reconstruction team stated that the truck appeared to be moving in order to move equipment.

If you have been injured in a construction accident, call our premier personal injury attorneys at Page Cagle in St. Louis today.  Our experience and know-how makes us the best choice when looking for help with a legal claim.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

In 1995, a tragic fire erupted at the Blue Island, IL oil refinery and took the lives of two mechanics, Michael Forsythe and Gary Szabla.  This month, after fourteen years of litigating a wrongful death suit, their families finally received closure with a $12 million settlement with Clark USA.

At the time of their deaths, Forsythe and Szabla worked as maintenance mechanics for Clark Refining & Marketing, Inc. at the Blue Island oil refinery in the suburbs of Chicago.  In March 1995, a fire erupted at the refinery while the two men were on their lunch break.  After investigation, authorities concluded that the fire was caused by other refinery operators who were performing maintenance work on a pipe without making sure that the flammable materials inside it had been depressurized. 

Because the accident was caused by a co-worker's error, Clark Refinery was held responsible for the men's deaths.  As a result, Clark Refinery paid out worker's compensation benefits and the families filed wrongful death suits against Clark USA.  The suit alleged that the refinery's focus on reducing costs in order to increase revenue left less funding available for training, maintenance, supervision and safety, a decision that resulted in many maintenance workers being insufficiently trained to work on equipment.

When an employee is injured on the job due to another worker's error or negligence on behalf of the company, that worker is entitled to legal compensation.  If you have suffered injury or lost a loved one under such circumstances, please call an experienced personal injury attorney at Page Cagle today to discuss your options.  We are available 24/7 for a free consultation.

Yet another Norfolk Southern Railway Company employee has filed suit this year for injuries sustained while working for the rail company. 

Kenneth R. Ringe, an employee since 1973, claims that over the course of his career he incurred injuries to his neck, back and upper extremities from operating heavy machinery and impact tools.  In addition to physical injuries and medical costs, he suffered mental anguish, lost wages and pain and suffering.

As a result, Ringe stated that his ability to work and enjoy normal pursuits of life have been heavily impaired.  He seeks a judgment of at least $50,000, plus costs.

Because worker's compensation does not cover employees of interstate railroads, Congress enacted the Federal Employers Liability Act to ensure that rail workers can file lawsuits against their employers if they are injured on the job.  If the negligence or carelessness of your employer has caused you injury, then it is imperative that you speak to an experienced FELA attorney at Page Cagle.  We can help you build your case and get the compensation you deserve.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

Craig and Colette Poettker filed suit in a St. Clair County court Feb. 26 seeking more than $700,000 for injuries that Craig sustained by a flying piece of debris while working on a road construction zone in Belleville. 

The debris was the result of an accident where Joseph Courtney crashed through a barricade while trying to change lanes.  The debris went flying and struck Poettker, causing him to suffer severe and permanent head and leg injuries.

Investigation proved that Courtney was driving in excess of 35 miles in the construction zone and failed to slow down to the posted speed limit when workers were present.  Furthermore, he failed to keep a proper lookout for hazards and maintain control of his vehicle, which resulted in him hitting the barricade.

According to the suit, Poettker claims the accident caused, "mental anguish, incurred medical bills, lost income," and the inability to attend to ordinary affairs of life.  His wife also claims a loss of consortium and society.

If you or a loved one has been severely injured in a car accident, you should not hesitate to contact an experienced Auto Accident Attorney.  At Page Cagle, we provide the skills necessary to handle cases all over Missouri and Illinois.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

Last Saturday, Feb. 7, construction workers and Suffolk University students were shocked when a crane lift toppled over, crashing into the back of a Temple Place apartment building in downtown Boston.  The vehicle fell into the alleyway next to a book shop and across the street from a Suffolk University dormitory.  Two construction workers fell with the lift, one managing to jump onto an apartment balcony, the other suffering fatal wounds after colliding with a metal door still inside the cherry picker.  The surviving worker was treated for injuries at Mass. General Hospital.

At the time of the accident, the vehicle was parked with one set of wheels on the sidewalk and the other atop wood boards for balance.  The reason for this was to ensure the two workers in the cherry picker attachment could reach the roof.  However, something went wrong and the two workers suddenly found themselves falling as the crane tipped over.

In an official statement by the university, officials acknowledged that the vehicle was owned and run by Reliable Roofing and Sheet Metal of Framingham, subcontractors for Tremco Inc.  Suffolk contracted Tremco to do a routine roof inspection.  So far, no new information has been released regarding relations between the University, the contracted companies, and the worker's families.

If you or a family member has been hurt in a construction accident, it is very important to speak with an attorney and know your rights.  The experienced Construction Accident Attorneys at Page Cagle handle accident cases all over Missouri and Illinois and are available 24/7 to answer any of your legal questions.  Contact us today!

Last month, Facundo Gonzalez was killed by a falling concrete wall while he was working on the foundation of a private residence.  After his death, a building inspector concluded that the foundation was constructed according to an unapproved design layout and lacked proper support.  In response, members of local activists groups and friends of Gonzalez gathered on Feb. 8 to protest what they now know was an avoidable accident. 

County Legislator Vivian Viloria-Fisher asserts that the point of the protest was to convey a simple message, "Unless every worker can work safely, then no worker can work safely.  We have to be certain that everyone that goes out...is protected."

After the accident, village officials stated that the accident was one of, "shoddy building practices," and was, "certainly avoidable."  So far, the Gonzalez family has not taken legal action but may be entitled to worker's compensation benefits depending on the state laws.

If you or a loved one was injured in a construction accident, you may be entitled to compensation if your employer was at fault.  The Illinois and Missouri construction accident attorneys at Page Cagle have the experience and know-how to handle your claim, and we will aggressively pursue any compensation you need whether it is for lost wages or medical bills.  Don't hesitate, call us today!

On January 29, Clifford Welch filed a Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA) complaint against his employers, Norfolk Southern Railway Company and Triple Crown Services Company, after he sustained injuries in 2007 when he attempted to lock a train trailer.  The pin on the railcar was frozen, however, and Welch injured his upper right extremity and right shoulder.

Since the accident, Welch has had surgery to correct his injuries but claims that the, "physical and mental pain and permanent disability of his shoulder," has affected his ability to work and enjoy life.  As a result, he has incurred medical expenses, emotional stress and lost wages.

In the two-count suit, Welch alleges that Norfolk Southern and Triple Crown were negligent because of failure to provide him with safe working conditions and proper maintenance of the railcars, including fixing any frozen pins.  Furthermore, he believes the defendants did not employ enough workers to inspect the cars and failed to provide him with safe equipment.  He currently seeks a judgment of at least $100,000 plus costs.

If you are a railroad worker who was injured on the job, you might have a potential claim against your employer.  The experienced FELA Attorney of Page Cagle have litigated cases in Missouri and Illinois, seeking compensation for clients for medical expenses, lost wages, emotional trauma and more.  The sooner you contact a lawyer, the sooner you can build your case and get the attention you deserve.  Call us today.

According to a Texas newspaper, Railserve Inc. is left as a lone defendent in a FELA suit filed by Perry Ashworth, an employee of the company, who lost part of his leg in 2007 after a railcar rolled over him.

When the accident occurred, Ashworth was working at a Huntsman Petrochemical Corp. refinery attempting to rearrange the rail cars when one of the cars rolled and entangled his right leg, servering it below the knee.  Huntsman was originally names in the suit, but was dismissed after granting Ashworth worker's compensation benefits totaling around $290 thousand. 

Another defendant in the case, Rescar, Inc., an affiliate with Railserve, motioned to appeal Huntsman's summary judgment but dropped the appeal after reaching settlement with Ashworth.  This now leaves Railserve, Inc. as the only defendant in the case, and Ashworth continues to pursue a Federal EMployer's Liability Act claim alleging that his employer, "failed to provide him with a safe place to work and failed to comply with government regulations."

If you are a rail worker who suffered an injury on the job, and you feel your employer was responsible, contact the experienced FELA Lawyers of Page Cagle law firm in St. Louis.  Our knowledgeable legal team can answer all you questions and help you get compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and more.