All eyes have been on a strip of highway near Florida International University since a tragic bridge collapse occurred there on a recent Thursday. When construction workers’ accidents like this one occur, preliminary investigations often lead to more questions than answers. One construction employee who was working on the bridge at the time says he remembers hearing a cracking sound, which caused him to rush to lock his safety harness in place.
That maneuver apparently saved the worker’s life, as moments later, he and the bridge went crashing to the highway below. The bridge was being constructed to create a safer means of crossing the road for students attending FIU. However, something went terribly wrong, and it will likely be some time before definitive answers are provided as to what caused the brand new bridge to fall.
Sadly, in addition to the worker who remains in hospital with bone fractures and other injuries, many others were injured and at least six people have died as a result of the bridge’s collapse. When the massive, 950 ton structure fell, there was a line of vehicles stopped at a traffic light underneath. President Donald Trump Tweeted praise remarks for the first responders and other rescuers who quickly went to work at the scene.
Building bridges, homes or commercial structures is always dangerous work. Construction workers’ accidents happen all the time in Florida and other states, although this fact by no means minimizes the devastation and suffering that often result when such mishaps occur. Injured workers can pursue compensation claims for benefits meant to help them pay medical bills and replace any wages lost during recovery. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help a recovering worker navigate the process.
Source: ABC, “Worker hurt in bridge collapse thinks locking in harness saved his life: Cousin“, Emily Shapiro, Stephanie Wash, March 16, 2018
