A construction worker was killed at an Atlanta apartment complex on Tuesday, March 15, when a concrete stairwell collapsed on him. According to a report from WSB-TV2, the accident occurred at 1220 Gun Club Road, in northwest Atlanta. The worker was part of a two-man crew that was doing repairs on the stairwell in a building that had been emptied in order for renovations to take place. The worker was reportedly not breathing when rescue personnel arrived. The collapse also damaged a gas meter. However, Atlanta Gas Light issued a statement noting that there was no active gas flowing to the gas meters at the apartment at the time of the collapse. The gas had been shut off there before construction began.
This tragic incident is part of a broader pattern of safety concerns in Atlanta. For example, Atlanta police found 150 code violations at a Section 8 apartment complex, highlighting ongoing issues with property maintenance and safety standards. Additionally, there have been other fatal accidents in the area, such as a driver killed after being struck outside of his vehicle on an exit ramp on Georgia Highway 400 and a driver fleeing a deadly accident in South Fulton.
Many types of construction accidents are compensated through Georgia’s worker’s compensation program, which provides benefits such as coverage of medical expenses and wage loss. Worker’s compensation also provides a death benefit to surviving family members of individuals killed in workplace accidents. However, there are also some situations in which a workplace accident is the result of a third party, such as negligence by a contractor at a site where a subcontracted worker is injured or killed, or in circumstances where the injured worker’s employer did not obtain worker’s compensation insurance for their employees in spite of being legally required to do so.
If you’ve been injured or have lost a loved one due to an accident at a construction site, let an experienced accident attorney from Cambre & Associates help you explore your legal options for seeking compensation. Our legal team helps clients with worker’s compensation claims, in addition to providing assistance with personal injury claims, meaning we are able to provide guidance and assistance with either process. Contact us for your free case evaluation.