Worker Killed in Florida Construction Accident

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on June 4, 2014

A recent Florida construction accident in Jacksonville has claimed the life of one worker, who fell more than 120 feet from the roof of an aircraft hangar at Cecil Field. The victim was a 26-year-old Virginia man, who was part of a team of workers building a huge hangar at the airport. Investigating officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office report that the man was attempting to move from one part of the roof to another when he momentarily disconnected his safety harness and lost his footing while trying to re-attach it. The victim’s brother was working at the site when the accident occurred and watched his brother fall to his death.

"That’s so sad to see your own brother pass away and you can’t do anything," said one co-worker, who heard about the accident when he arrived at work at the building next to the hangar.

The co-worker had not yet arrived to work on the day of the accident but has watched construction workers erecting the hangar for the last several months. Jacksonville Aviation Authority spokesperson Michael Stewart said that the hangar under construction is Hangar 935 located near Aviation Avenue. He said that the hangar is scheduled to be completed in October for Flightstar Aircraft Services. The principal contractor on the project is Balfour Beatty, which contracts with several other companies to complete large projects, such as this aircraft hangar. A spokesperson with Balfour Beatty told investigators that the victim was employed by a company called IMC Erectors. Investigators say that high winds may have been a factor in this fatal construction accident. Wind gusts in the Jacksonville area reached a peak of 45 mph on the day of the accident. The accident remains under investigation.

Falls are the single-most common type of construction site accident and often the most deadly. This accident could have been caused by a tragic combination of circumstances but investigators have learned over the years that negligence can sometimes be a contributing factor in construction accidents involving falls. If you or a member of your family has been injured in a construction site accident and you’d like to speak with an experienced Orlando construction accident injury attorney, call James O. Cunningham at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587) and schedule a free consultation. Few Orlando personal injury lawyers have more experience or a better record of success helping injured workers than Mr. Cunningham. Call him today and get his skills, experience and resources 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.