One worker was killed and another was injured in a New Jersey construction accident after the building’s floor collapsed. According to a News 12 report, the construction accident occurred at the Coda Kitchen and Bar on Maplewood Avenue in Maplewood, New Jersey. Officials say the 50-year-old victim was one of two men who were building stairs down in the basement when the first floor collapsed. A third construction worker and a restaurant manager were able to get out safely, but the two workers in the basement were trapped. One was killed and the other sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.
The building where this fatal floor collapse occurred was condemned until repairs could be completed. The report states that the restaurant owner did obtain all the permits necessary to begin construction. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the floor collapse.
There are many reasons why construction consistently makes the list of the most dangerous occupations in New Jersey. Construction workers are consistently subjected to a number of hazardous conditions at worksites, including poorly constructed scaffolding, defective and poorly maintained equipment and tools, falling building materials and collapsing floors, just to name a few. It is the responsibility of all employers and property owners to carefully evaluate the safety of a location, and to safeguard workers and the public from hazards pursuant to codes, standards and guidelines established by various entities.
If you have been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a construction accident, the experienced New Jersey construction accident lawyers at Blume Forte can help you better understand your legal rights and options. If you were injured through no fault of your own at a construction site in New Jersey, contact us for a no-cost evaluation of your potential claim. Please call (973)635-5400.