Employees of construction companies in Colorado and across the country may be forced to operate in and around potentially hazardous environments every day. Even with the presence of safety measures and equipment, accidents at a construction site can still place the health of everyone involved at risk. A recent construction accident in another state has claimed the life of a 33-year-old man who was trapped underwater while working in a hole.
According to reports, the incident took place just before 11 a.m. on a recent Tuesday. A man was operating inside a hole at a job site when a valve suddenly disconnected from a nearby water main, causing the hole to rapidly fill with water and trapping the man within. Upon arriving at the scene, emergency responders supplied nearby workers with life jackets and a pole, and they were eventually able to pull the man out.
The worker was rushed to a medical facility soon thereafter, but was unfortunately pronounced dead later on. An investigation into the incident is underway, and officials have stated that although the line didn’t appear to be under excessive pressure, it was filled with water. When workers are present, water lines are generally shut off to prevent a similar incident, and failure to take such measures can have devastating consequences.
Families who lose a loved one in a construction accident may face various hardships, emotional and financial alike. While the grief of such a loss may ease with time, the monetary burdens of a loss of income and end-of-life expenses can leave a family in need of relief, but they may be uncertain where to turn for guidance. By speaking with an experienced attorney in Colorado, a family could obtain advice on every available outlet for compensation, as well as assistance in navigating the process.
Source: wnem.com, “Police identify man killed in Burton construction accident”, Jessica Royce, Nov. 21, 2017