In addition to a number of severe injuries that can be sustained in a trench collapse accident in Georgia, such as broken ribs and spinal cord injuries, there's also a profound risk for death.
In fact, more than 270 workers died from trench or excavation cave-ins from 2000 to 2006, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. So just what is it that makes a trench collapse so deadly?
Take a look at some of the following causes of trench collapse fatalities:
- asphyxia (from lack of oxygen);
- toxic fumes and gases;
- suffocation (from weight of soil);
- drowning (in the case of floods);
- electrocution (when utility cables come into contact with ground or rainwater); and
- explosions.
To prevent trench collapse fatalities, trenches should be equipped with protective wall systems to shield workers, ladders to provide a way out and barricades to prevent falls.
A failure to provide these safeguards can result in serious injury, and in many cases, death. Just the vibration of construction equipment or backhoes used for digging can cause the ground to unsettle and bury workers below.
If you've been injured in a trench collapse accident in Georgia, contact an Atlanta worksite injury lawyer to discuss your options to file a personal injury claim. In addition to Workers' Compensation benefits, a worksite injury lawyer may help you to be able to seek additional damages from third parties that are liable for the accident.
Contacting an Atlanta Worksite Injury Lawyer
If you are the victim of someone else's negligence or carelessness, whether in a trench collapse accident in Georgia or some other type of workplace accident, you have certain rights guaranteed by law. To help you understand these rights and seek the compensation you may be eligible for to help get your life back in order, contact the Atlanta Law Offices of Sheryl L. Burke for a no-cost consultation on your injury case - 404-842-7838.
