Boston Injury Lawyer Blog
In Swampscott, Massachusetts, three construction workers were sent to local hospitals on Tuesday after the scaffolding that they were standing on fell, causing the workers to drop two stories to the ground. The three men had been roofing a new home when the bracket that was holding the planks of the scaffolding in place punched through a wall.
Swampscott police Chief Ronald Madigan says the bracket appeared to be attached to the wall of the house but that there did not appear to be a stud on the inside that could support the workers’ weight. Police Chief Ronald Madigan said the cause of the fall accident appeared to be “an improperly placed support.” OSHA, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, is investigating the accident.
The three men injured in the accident were Gloucester resident John Goslin, Kevin Kuppim, of Beverly, and Tim Shennet from Exeter, New Hampshire. According to police, one of the men temporarily lost consciousness after the fall.
The name of the roofing company is A.F. Construction. The 2500 square foot home where the accident occurred is being constructed on a hill.
Although construction workers generally cannot sue their employers when they are injured on the job because of benefits they are entitled to through workers’ compensation, there may be other parties that can be held liable for a construction worker’s injuries, pain, and suffering. For example, if a person is injured on the job because of a defective piece of construction equipment or machinery, the manufacturer, distributor, assembler, or seller of the product could be held liable for allowing the defective product to enter the marketplace.
Defective products claims and lawsuits fall under products liability law, which holds manufacturers, retailers, and distributors legally for making sure that their products that enter the marketplace are safe for use and will not injure or kill any consumers-if the product is used properly. Injury or death because of a defective machine, a contaminated food product, a defective toy, a faulty electronic item, a defective car part, or any other consumer item is grounds for a products liability claim or lawsuit.
If you have been injured in a construction accident in Massachusetts, you should speak with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney immediately. Your workers’ compensation lawyer can make sure that you receive the maximum benefits that you are entitled to under the law. Your attorney can also evaluate and investigate your case and file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against any negligent parties.
An injured worker has seven months after an injury accident to file a personal injury claim against a third party.
Three workers hospitalized after fall from scaffolding, The Salem News, October 10, 2007
Related Web Resources:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Department of Industrial Accidents, Mass.gov
In Massachusetts, Altman & Altman LLP represents injured construction workers and other employees that have been injured on the job. We can help you with your workers’ compensation claim and also file a personal injury claim or lawsuit against any negligent third parties.
Our team of committed workers’ compensation lawyers and personal injury attorneys are ready to help you recover your losses. Contact Altman & Altman LLP today and ask for your free consultation.
