201710.04

Scaffolding at Television Tower in Miami Gardens Collapses, Causing Deaths of Three Workers

In a tragic Florida worksite accident that took place recently in Miami-Dade County, scaffolding outside a television tower in the Miami Gardens area collapsed on September 28, leading to the death of three people. As reported by the Palm Beach Post, workers were removing equipment at the top of the tower to install a transmission antenna when the accident occurred.

While the exact cause of the collapse remains unknown, frayed wires near the top of the 1,250 foot tower could be seen from several news helicopters according to a Miami Local 10 news report. That report also noted that the victims of the accidents were not employed by the television stations which shared the transmission tower, but instead were employed by a Texas company called Tower King II. Tower King II was contracted by the two television stations to upgrade the antenna, which was first built in 2009.

Worksite Accidents Are More Common That Most People Know

Worksites can be deadly for those working on them. This is true both for construction sites as well as other worksites, like television and cellular telephone towers. As noted in the Local 10 article discussed above, according to the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration, which regulates workplace safety for Americans on the job, 13 people have died in falls from television or cell phone towers since 2011. Worksites involving scaffolding can be just as dangerous; if not properly constructed, scaffolding like that used by the crew in this tragic incident can collapse and cause victims to suffer serious injuries or even death like the poor Tower King II employees in this instance.

The Legal Duties of the Worksite Owner and a Contractor on a Worksite

Depending on the location of a worksite, both the worksite’s owner as well as a company (like Tower King II in this instance) that is performing work on a worksite can be liable if an employee or worker is injured or killed on the site. Third parties who may happen to walk by and be injured or killed by falling debris may also have legal claim(s) against the worksite owner as well as a company doing work on the site. This would include those who may be happening to walk by and are struck by falling debris from the worksite. Therefore, if the collapsing scaffolding in the scenario above had fallen on an innocent bystander, that bystander would likely have a claim against both the owners of the worksite (the two television stations) as well as Tower King II.

Damages Available in Worksite Accidents

If you have been injured in a worksite accident, Florida law permits you to recover damages commensurate with whatever losses you suffered. This includes any medical bills relating to treatment you may have suffered as a result of your injuries suffered in a worksite accident, any pain and suffering you may have suffered as a result of those injuries, and any loss of income from work you were forced to miss as a result of your injuries. The same would be true for the survivors of a worker killed on a worksite like the Tower King II employees who died recently in Miami Gardens. Each of their estates would be entitled to recover the full measure of damages provided for under the Florida Wrongful Death Act, including any net accumulations lost as a result of the decedent’s death, the lost support and services any spouse or dependents of the decedent suffered as a result of the death, the decedent’s funeral and burial expenses, and the pain and suffering a deceased worker’s family may suffer as a result of his or her death.

Contact Schwed Adams if You or a Loved One Has Been Injured or Killed In A Worksite Accident

The experienced worksite accident and wrongful death attorneys of the law firm of Schwed, Adams Sobel & McGinley have extensive experience representing victims of worksite accidents and their families. If you, a loved one or family member has been injured or killed in a worksite accident, contact our experienced personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation regarding your situation at contact@schwedlawfirm.com or 877 694 6079. Our personal injury attorneys have over 150 years of combined legal experience that we look forward to putting to work for you in your time of need.