Pittsburgh Fatal Construction Accidents

A fatal construction accident changes a family forever. While workers’ compensation may provide limited benefits, it does not always represent your family’s only legal option. What many people do not realize is that there may be an option to pursue a wrongful death action following Pittsburgh fatal construction accidents, where someone other than your employer played a role in causing your injury.

A wrongful death claim can hold negligent companies or individuals accountable. When you need help with this type of claim, reach out to the team of well-practiced construction accident attorneys at Berger and Green to learn how we can help you during this challenging time and fight for the compensation you need to rebuild your life.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Fatal Construction Accidents?

Many fatal construction accidents happen because another company or individual failed to follow basic safety rules. Some of the most common factors in deadly Pittsburgh construction accidents include the following.

Falls From Heights

Falls remain one of the leading causes of fatal construction accidents. Workers perform duties on scaffolding or other elevated platforms, where even a small hazard can lead to major consequences. Missing guardrails, defective fall protection equipment, unstable scaffolding, or improperly secured ladders can all lead to deadly falls.

Struck-by Accidents

Construction sites contain moving vehicles, cranes, heavy machinery, falling tools, and building materials. A worker can suffer fatal injuries after being struck by equipment or debris. These accidents happen for a variety of reasons, from poor communication to defective barricades.

Electrocution

Construction crews routinely work near temporary wiring, energized power lines, and electrical systems under construction. Electrocution is the result of hazards like exposed wiring, improperly installed electrical equipment, or the failure to de-energize circuits, which can result in fatal electrocution.

Caught-In or Caught-Between Accidents

Workers can become trapped between heavy machinery, collapsing trenches, structural components, or moving equipment. These incidents cause catastrophic injuries that prove fatal.

Defective Equipment

Construction workers rely on a variety of equipment every day. When these products fail because of a defect, it may be possible to hold the manufacturer accountable for a wrongful death.

The Deadline to File a Lawsuit

Under 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes § 5524(2), the state generally gives families two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. You may have missed out on the chance for justice if you miss this deadline.

Although two years may seem like plenty of time, important evidence can disappear quickly. Construction sites change rapidly, and any delays will only make it harder for your attorney to discover what happened.

Liable Parties After a Fatal Construction Accident

If someone other than your loved one’s employer contributed to a deadly Pittsburgh construction accident, you may have the right to file a third-party wrongful death lawsuit. Unlike workers’ compensation, these claims focus on proving that another person or business acted negligently and caused the fatal accident. There could be multiple parties who face liability in these cases. They include the following:

• Contractors and subcontracts
• Delivery drivers
• Vendors
• Property owners
• Pedestrians
• Equipment manufacturers

A wrongful death claim may seek compensation for funeral expenses, medical expenses incurred before death, the financial support your loved one would have provided, and the loss of services, comfort, and guidance.

Because of what this recovery can mean for your family, it is important to understand who is to blame for your loved one’s passing. Our attorneys understand what a successful claim looks like and know how to identify those parties who should be named as a defendant.