Two injured in collapse of Dallas Cowboys practice facility file lawsuit

Two men injured in the May 2nd collapse of the Dallas Cowboys practice facility have filed a lawsuit seeking unspecified damages, including pain and suffering, against a number of defendants involved in the construction of the facility. The Dallas Cowboys are not amongst the defendants named in the lawsuit.

The victims bringing the Texas personal injury lawsuit are special teams coach Joe DeCamillis and scouting aid Rich Behm. DeCamillis suffered a broken neck, and Behm was paralyzed from the waist down.

The Texas lawsuit accuses some of the defendants of conspiracy. According to allegations made in the suit, these defendants knew for at least two years that the facility was unsafe but covered up this fact. It also accuses the defendants of negligence.

Defendants named in the lawsuit include: Cover-All Building Systems, the designer-manufacturer of the facility, which is based in Canada; Wrangler Concrete Construction, which laid the facility’s foundation; Pennsylvania-based Summit Structures, a subsidiary of Cover-All; and JCI, a Las Vegas consulting firm.

To read more about the Texas personal injury lawsuit over the collapsed Dallas Cowboys facility, click here for the complete story.

Fears | Nachawati is a Texas personal injury law firm that represents accident victims in pursuing legal claims against the responsible party. To receive free legal assistance from one of our Texas personal injury lawyers, email us at info@fnlawfirm.com or call us on our toll-free number at 1.866.705.7584 for a free consultation.

 

Causes of construction accidents

Causes of construction accidents vary depending on the type of job, the work environment and the equipment used in the course of the victim’s daily work. While there are numerous causes of construction accidents, there are certain types of on-the-job accidents that Texas personal injury lawyers come across on a regular basis.

 

One common cause of Texas construction accidents is faulty equipment due to regular wear and tear. After a while, equipment simply needs to be replaced or repaired due to the strain of daily use. Workers can be seriously injured on the job if they are using worn-out tools and equipment. Equipment needs to be serviced regularly to ensure that it is safe for use on the job.

 

Falls are another frequent cause of workplace injuries. According to the U.S. Department of Safety, falls accounted for 15% of all workplace fatalities in 2007. General research indicates that falls account for one out of every three construction accident deaths. The most common type is a worker falling from a roof, but faulty scaffolding is another frequent cause of falls in the workplace.

 

Other causes of construction accidents include:

 

  • Electrocution
  • Asphyxiation
  • Lack of proper training
  • Fires or explosions
  • Heavy machinery accidents, such as cranes and forklifts
  • Faulty safety harness
  • Welding accidents
  • Trench collapses
  • Falling objects
  • Failure to comply with OSHA safety standards
  • Exposure to caustic chemicals
  • Holes in the floor
  • Compressed gases
  • Lifting heavy objects

Sadly, many Texas construction accidents could have been avoided through basic safety measures. However, employers sometimes fail in their duty to provide their employees with a safe work environment. In these cases, the injured worker is sometimes eligible to bring a personal injury lawsuit and/or pursue a worker’s compensation claim.

 

If you have been injured in a construction accident, contact Fears | Nachawati today for free legal advice on whether you have a personal injury claim. Email us at info@fnlawfirm.com or call us on our toll-free number at 1.866.705.7584 for a free consultation.