Personal Injury Attorneys: Getting What You Deserve

Recovering Damages From A Construction-Related Trench Accident

12 March 2021

Laurie Flores

Construction sites often need to use trenches, but when working within a trench as a construction worker, you might suddenly discover that the trench is collapsing and you are not able to respond in time. Some trenches can be very deep and the collapsing trench can cause you to become injured by the dirt that falls on you or pushes equipment on top of you. 

Who Is at Fault for a Collapsing Trench

Safety measures need to be put in place to prevent a collapsing trench. For example, you will need to be wearing protective equipment at all times. You might be at fault for failing to wear the protective equipment or your employer may fail to supply the protective equipment or not provide you with adequate training. 

If you are an employee, you will be entitled to workers' compensation as a result of the collapsing trench and the injuries you have suffered regardless of who is at fault. However, if you are an independent contractor or some other party who is not classified as an employee, you will need to find a party who is liable for the collapsing trench and will then need to seek compensation for your injuries.

One place to start is to see if any party is guilty of OSHA violations. The OSHA puts rules in place for how certain activities are to be carried out and failure to follow these rules can be evidence of negligence.

A Construction Injury Attorney Can Help

If you contact a construction injury attorney, they will be able to get to the bottom of who caused your accident. The trench might not have been sloped properly and this may lead to the trench collapsing.

The soil might have been unstable or not tested properly. Regardless of the problem, there is always a remedy and the party that fails to use the appropriate remedy is at fault for the accident.

Common Injuries Resulting From a Collapsing Trench

After the trench collapses, you might suffer from:

• Broken bones
• Brain damage
• Lost limbs
• Exposure to dangerous gases

If you are trapped underneath and have your oxygen supply cut off temporarily, you might suffer from brain damage. 

An experienced attorney will assist you in calculating all damages that are related to your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. They will use the fact that the other party was negligent to justify the largest settlement possible so you will be made whole again.

Contact a local construction injury attorney to learn more.

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