MADISON, WI — One person was killed in a construction site accident that happened in Madison, Wisconsin on Friday, February 20th, 2015. News reports said that that the accident happened at about 7:38 Friday morning.
One person was killed when they were crushed by a concrete wall that fell onto him while working on a stairwell in an apartment complex construction site in the 1100 block of John Nolen Drive. News reports did not say exactly how the wall fell.
The worker was taken by UW Hospital where he died of his injuries.
It is not clear if the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is handling the accident investigation.
Scene of the Accident
View of the Road
Commentary:
Many may take a quick look at the fact pattern reported in the news about this accident, many may automatically thing that they’re going to be forced into a workers’ compensation solution. In reality, there may be a lot more complicated than it seems at first glance. Very rarely does one company handle the entirety of a construction site. There is usually a melting pot of contractors like HVAC, electricians, foundation, framers and more. There is actually a pretty good chance that the company that was responsible for the accident was not the one the victim worked for, considering there are so many contractors at work on a project of this magnitude. If this turns out to be the case, then the claim would not be one of workers compensation against the victim’s employer, but a negligence claim against the company responsible, which usually benefits victims a great deal more than the alternative.
— Grossman Law Offices
