Man Seriously Injured in Florida Construction Accident

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on January 30, 2011

A construction worker was critically injured on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 when he was impaled on a steel railing. Co-workers say the accident occurred around 9:30 that morning at a construction site in the 900 block of Hillsboro Mile in Hillsboro Beach. The police investigation is still ongoing, but early reports say the 36-year-old victim fell eight feet onto the steel railing and was impaled through his thigh or abdomen. Police did not yet know what caused the worker to fall or whether he was wearing the safety harness required by Florida laws and regulations.

Police say that by the time emergency response personnel arrived to help the man, he had been removed from the railing and was conscious. He was transported to North Broward Medical Center in serious condition. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an investigation, and local police are conducting their own investigation.

Due to the nature of the work they perform, construction workers are at elevated risk of suffering serious and even fatal injuries on the job. Years ago, OSHA was created to enact rules and regulations to protect workers employed in the construction industry and other high-risk workplaces. These rules and regulations, along with advances in safety equipment and rules regarding safety protocols, have drastically reduced the number of workers injured and killed on the job and have raised awareness about safety on the job.

However, as this construction accident shows, there’s plenty of room for improvement. Some employers deliberately ignore safety rules and regulations in order to make more money on a project. In doing so, they deliberately expose their workers to substantial risk for serious injury. If an accident occurs and it is determined that the employer did not have proper safety equipment and procedures in place, they can be held liable for damages.

Have you or a close family member been injured in a Florida construction accident? If you have questions about your legal options, call Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000. He will answer your questions, explain the laws that apply to your situation, protect your rights at all times and work hard to help you and your family receive the fair and just compensation you deserve. Before you sign any documents offered by your employer, their insurance company or their attorneys, call experienced Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham to get him on your side!

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.