Verdicts & Settlements - Workplace Accident Lawsuit

Mason Supervisor Settles Herniated Disc Construction Accident Case for $350,000

This was a workplace setting construction accident case. At the time of the accident plaintiff was working for a mason contractor on a 500 home residential development project. At the time of the construction accident, the development project had been ongoing for about one year was about 50% complete. The general contractor of this job site was the Hovnanian defendants. The Sambol defendants were an excavating subcontractor. Plaintiff's employer was a mason subcontractor. During that time period, a certain location on the project was designated for the placement on the storage trailers of the various subcontractors. These trailers were used by the subcontractors to store their tools, materials, and equipment. These trailers were all lined up flush in a row. The workers would access the back of the trailers to obtain their materials and equipment. One long set of decking and stairs was constructed and abutted flush to the rear of the trailers. These decking and stairs were used by the workers so that they could safely get in and out of the trailers to obtain their equipment and materials. This arrangement worked well and there were no accidents while it was in place.

At some point during the project Hovnanian decided that a home had to be built on the location where the storage trailers were kept. In order for the Sambol defendants to begin excavating this lot, they needed to move the supply trailers to another location. They moved all the trailers about 500 feet away, down the street. However, they failed to line the trailers flush such that the decking could be placed in the back of the trailers. Also, instead of moving the decking and stairs with the trailers, they simply dropped it across the street. Therefore, for approximately two to three months on this job site, none of the trailers had any decking or stairs attached. This required workers to jump in and out to access their materials. This is obviously an unsafe condition which was created by the defendants.

As a result of this dangerous condition plaintiff lost his footing as he was trying to get into his trailer to retrieve tools and equipment because there was no decking and stairs. As a result of this construction site accident plaintiff sustained a large herniated disc at L5-S1. This ended his life long career as a mason. He had no pre-existing back injury problems.

For more information or to speak with an experienced New Jersey workplace construction accident attorney, contact Keefe Bartels & Clark LLC.

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