Study Shows Negligent Driving Contributes to 37% of Motorcycle Crashes
Crash data from the GHSA (Governors Highway Safety Association) reveals that throughout the United States, motorcyclist traffic deaths increased by around 9% between 2011 and 2012. For example, our Houston motorcycle injury attorneys report that Maryland saw 61 fatal motorcycle collisions in the first 9 months of 2011 and 63 in the first nine months of 2012. A study in Frederick County, Maryland showed that that negligent driving was a factor in 37% of the motorcycle crashes.
By contrast, Texas, which has seen an alarming increase of 56% in the number of fatal motorcycle crashes since 2004, actually experienced a rare decrease of 6% in the number of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2012. Numbers were down to 460 in 2012 compared to 488 in 2011.
Sharp Increase in Fatal Motorcycle Crashes Leads to Government Concern
The Houston motorcycle injury attorneys at Denena Points, PC emphasize that the overall sharp increase in motorcyclist fatalities across the nation has led the federal government and state transportation authorities to focus on the causes of motorcycle accidents and on ways to prevent them. An examination of these issues by the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland found that negligent driving was a factor in 37% of motorcycle crashes. In Frederick County, 196 motorcycle crashes were reported between January 2008 and May 2013.
- Failure to pay attention was listed as a factor in 37% of the Frederick County accidents, making inattentive driving a leading cause of such accidents and the resulting serious injuries and deaths.
- Failure to maintain a single lane while driving was a factor in 30% of the accidents.
- Driving too fast for conditions contributed to 18% of the crashes.
- In Frederick County, the great majority of the accidents were single-vehicle crashes involving only the motorcycle. Only 28% of the County’s motorcycle accidents were collisions with another vehicle.
- Most of the motorcycle accidents occurred in daylight between 5:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Half of the motorcycle crashes happened on the weekend.
Why are the Numbers of Fatal Motorcycle Collisions Rising Nationwide?
The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, similarly to TxDOT, concluded that the reasons might be warmer weather in combination with an improving economy and/or more people taking to motorcycles to save on gas expenses. Our Houston motorcycle injury attorneys note that these factors would lead to more motorcycles on the road. But the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M is concerned that crash data might be undercounting motorcycles and the involvement of other vehicles in their crashes.
Past studies have indicated that very often crashes reported as single-vehicle motorcycle accidents were actually caused by an enclosed vehicle cutting off the bike and then traveling on without stopping as the motorcycle crashed. And road debris and obstacles also cause 5% or more of motorcycle collisions.
Contact the Houston Motorcycle Injury Attorneys at Denena Points, PC for a FREE Legal Consultation after a Serious Crash Injury
Chad Points and Tony Denena have been helping injured motorcyclists and their family members successfully make full financial recoveries after their accidents for more than 14 years. They know motorcycle accidents, their causes, how to conduct thorough accident investigations, and how to build strong, successful cases. They could help you too.
Contact Chad and Tony at 713-807-9500 or fill out the online contact form to schedule your free, no obligation legal consultation to discuss your accident and evaluate your potential for a full financial recovery. The Texas Board Certified attorneys at Denena Points, PC never charge you attorneys’ fees unless they win your case for you.
Increasing Motorcyclist Visibility Really Does Help Prevent TX Crashes
A study published by the PMC US, Motorcycle rider conspicuity and crash related injury: case-control study, is one of the studies to focus on whether the visibility of motorcyclists to drivers of enclosed vehicles plays a major role in collisions. Several studies have found that drivers of larger vehicles simply don’t perceive small motorcycles or bicycles or pedestrians. Our Houston motorcycle accident attorneys report that this and other studies have found that increasing motorcyclist visibility really does help prevent Texas crashes.
In half of car drivers’ collisions with motorcycles, the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) at Texas A&M University found that the car drivers said they hadn’t even seen the motorcycles before the crash.
The Hurt Report remains the major U.S. study on motorcycle accidents and injuries. It was conducted decades ago, but many of its overall conclusions remain valid. That study included one of the only studies of whether increasing motorcyclist visibility through wearing brighter and lighter clothing and helmets could help reduce the incidence of crashes. The Houston motorcycle accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC note that the Hurt Report concluded that brighter colors would help some, but the question was not a major focus of the study.
Motorcycle rider conspicuity and crash related injury: case-control study has taken a modern, in-depth look at the question of rider clothing and helmet colors and concluded that wearing lighter and brighter colors could reduce the number of crashes with other vehicles and resulting serious injuries and deaths by up to one third.
The Ideas Behind the Motorcycle Crash Study
A large amount of crash data and anecdotal evidence over the years has indicated that the relatively low physical conspicuity (or visibility) of motorcyclists to other vehicle drivers is a significant contributing factor in a large proportion of collisions causing injury or death.
Our Houston motorcycle accident attorneys emphasize that the social and monetary costs of motorcycle crash injuries, disabilities, and fatalities are very high. Untimely deaths, hospital admissions and stays, lost income, rehabilitation and therapy, ongoing medical costs, property damage, legal expenses, family grieving, and suffering generate ongoing social and financial costs.
The relatively low visibility of motorcycles to drivers of larger vehicles might result from:
- The smaller size of the motorcycle.
- The irregular outline of the bike and biker.
- Low luminance or contrast with the background environment.
- The motorcycle’s ability to travel where larger vehicles cannot and to fit in smaller spaces between cars and trucks where other drivers are not expecting anything to be.
Traffic crashes take a disproportionate toll upon victims not protected by enclosed vehicles. The study examined whether inexpensive and easy protective measures that enhance a biker’s visibility, like use of headlights at all times and the use of bright, light, fluorescent, or reflective colors (in the helmet, rider clothing, and the motorcycle) could help increase motorcyclist conspicuity and decrease the risk of serious injuries or deaths. The Houston motorcycle accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC remark that the study found that such measures could in fact significantly reduce the risks of collisions, injuries, and death.
The Motorcycle Crash Risk Study and its Results
The study focused on motorcycle drivers and passengers in the urban area of Auckland, New Zealand and in the area immediately around the city. The study included motorcycle drivers and passengers who died in accidents, were admitted to hospitals, or treated in emergency rooms and who had an injury severity score of 5 or greater with 24 hours of a motorcycle crash. The studied cases involved 490 motorcyclists, including 32 who died, and 1,518 motorcycle driver control subjects. Our Houston motorcycle accident attorneys note that the results of the study, though based in Auckland, could be generally applicable to other urban areas in industrialized nations.
The study found that 66% of the crashes occurred in urban areas with a 50-km/h speed limit, 63% happened during daylight hours, and 72% took place in good weather.
Around 80% of the 1,233 control drivers wore black, brown, or blue (dark) clothing on the upper body and black or blue (dark) clothing on the lower body. Data analysis discovered that motorcycle drivers wearing any reflective or fluorescent clothing had a 37% lower risk of collision, injury, and death. The protective factor of the reflective or fluorescent clothing increased as light conditions decreased, such as at twilight and dusk.
Motorcycle drivers reported the use of 3 main helmet colors: 39.8% black helmets, 30.6% white helmets, and 13.8% red. Those using a white helmet had a 24% lower risk of collision, injury, or death compared to those who wore black helmets. Use of a light colored helmet generally reduced crash risk 19% compared to use of a dark helmet.
About 75% of motorcyclists used their headlamps even during the day. The use of a headlamp during the day correlated with a 27% lower risk of crash injuries.
Our Houston motorcycle accident attorneys mention that the study revealed no observable association between the frontal color and lightness of a driver’s clothing or motorcycle and the crash injury risk.
Conclusions of the Motorcycle Crash Risk Study
The researchers concluded from the data that wearing bright colors during the day, using the headlights during the day, and use of reflective or fluorescent clothing increase a motorcyclist’s visibility or conspicuity by increasing the contrast between the background environment and the surface of the rider or object the color is on. The data surprisingly indicated that use of a bright or light colored helmet strongly reduced crash risk, but that bright or light colors on the front of a biker’s clothing or on the bike itself did not make a significant difference.
The results of the study support the use of both passive and active collision injury prevention strategies such as laws requiring daylight use of headlights and measures like wearing bright or light colored helmets and clothing that encourage higher conspicuity of bikers. Learn more about what to do in the event of a serious motorcycle crash. Click the book icon on this web page to download your free guide from the Houston motorcycle accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC.
Fixed Objects like Dimwitted Bulls causing Fatal Motorcycle Accidents
Continued from Part 1. A crash earlier this week provided ample evidence of how fixed objects like dimwitted bulls standing in the roadway might cause fatal motorcycle accidents. Early on Tuesday before dawn, Timothy Martin, 43, was tragically killed in a crash in Honey Grove, Texas when his motorcycle collided with a dark and dimwitted bull standing in the roadway. Our Houston motorcycle injury attorneys note that the bull would likely have weighed much more than Mr. Martin and his motorcycle together.
The accident occurred on Highway 82 by the west Lamar County line. Timothy Martin was ejected from his bike by the violent collision and died at the scene of the tragic crash. A short time later, an 18-wheeler also crashed into the bull at Honey Grove. The truck driver was not hurt. Texas DPS troopers said that the owner of the bull might face charges. (kxii.com, 9/19/13) Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Martin’s family and friends at this time.
How Common are Fatal Fixed Object Collisions with Motorcycles?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is an organization very interested in determining the cause of accidents and better ways to prevent them because its industry has to pay the costs of the crashes. The IIHS found that in 2011, for example, 23% of all fatal motorcycle collisions were with fixed objects like concrete highway barriers, signposts, trees, and the occasional oblivious bull in the roadway. Our Houston motorcycle injury attorneys mention for comparison that only 16% of the fatal crashes of enclosed vehicles involved fixed objects. That’s a substantial difference.
Many of the enclosed vehicle crashes with fixed objects are due to driver distraction, drunkenness, or speeding. But the motorcycles’ crashes into fixed objects occur because the two-wheeled vehicles are less stable than four (or more) wheeled vehicles and because larger, enclosed vehicles often turn or stop suddenly in front of the bikes.
The Houston motorcycle injury attorneys at Denena Points, PC caution that drivers of larger vehicles chronically either fail to perceive smaller motorcycles or think that they’re farther away than they actually are. And the larger vehicles’ sudden turns cause the smaller bikes to try to make hasty evasive maneuvers that might send the motorcycle out of control to hit another object or a stopped or turning car.
Learn Important Pitfalls and Procedures in the Aftermath of a Serious Texas Motorcycle Crash
Download our FREE guide by clicking on the book icon on this web page. And feel free to contact us if you have questions about the motorcycle accident injury that harmed you or your loved one. The Houston motorcycle injury attorneys at Denena Points, PC provide a FREE, no obligation initial legal consultation to discuss the specific facts of your accident and evaluate your potential eligibility for the full financial recovery you deserve for your injuries or losses. And we never charge you attorneys’ fees unless we win your case for you. Call us at 713-807-9500 or reach us anytime through our online contact form.
Two Fatal Texas Motorcycle Accidents and What Made Them Happen
Recently, two fatal Texas motorcycle accidents and what made them happen documented two major causes behind motorcycle injuries and fatalities: (1) drivers of enclosed vehicles making a turn who don’t see or make room for smaller motorcycles, and (2) fixed object crashes.
(1) 22-year-old Joseph Madrigal, who had just moved to Conroe, Texas, tragically lost his life there in a fatal motorcycle accident on FM 3083 between Pollock and FM 1484. Mr. Madrigal was westbound behind another vehicle that turned right onto Pollock as a Chevy pickup was turning east onto FM 3083. Our Houston motorcycle accident attorneys note that the vehicle ahead of Mr. Madrigal had stopped for heavy traffic before turning. And Steven Garrett started to turn his Chevy pickup, apparently not seeing Joseph Madrigal on his motorcycle behind the other vehicle. Mr. Madrigal tried to evade the impending accident and hit his brakes about 50 feet before striking the front fender of the Chevy truck.
Joseph Madrigal died at the scene of the tragic motorcycle crash. Scott Engle of the Montgomery County Police Reporter (9/12/13) noted that Conroe police had been working at the very intersection of FM 3083 and Pollock that formed the scene of the accident for several weeks because drivers fail to stop at the stop signs there. A portable electric sign has even been placed before the stop sign to warn motorists of their legal duty to stop.
Our Houston motorcycle accident attorneys remark that no charges have yet been filed, but the investigation into the accident is ongoing. FM 3083 was closed for about two hours as authorities investigated and cleared the scene. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Mr. Joseph Madrigal.
The Houston motorcycle accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC note that IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) studies of motorcycle crashes have found that at least 40% of motorcycle accidents occur when another vehicle is turning in front of a bike and doesn’t leave room for the oncoming motorcycle. Specifically, in 2011 the IIHS found that 39% of all motorcycle collisions with other vehicles resulted because the larger vehicles were turning left in front of the oncoming bikes and did not leave room for the motorcyclists.
A number of studies have documented the causes for this failure among enclosed vehicle drivers: drivers of larger vehicles tend to keep watch for vehicles their own size or larger and fail to perceive smaller motorcycles, and because the motorcycles are smaller than they are, if they notice them, they perceive them as being farther away than they actually are.
Continue to Part 2 to read about a fatal and bizarre motorcycle crash with a fixed object (a bull).
Types of Injury in a Texas Collision with a Heavy Truck or School Bus
Continued from Part 1. Passenger vehicle collisions with heavy trucks often result in underride due to the trucks’ high ground clearances. Underride can shear away the top of a vehicle or crush the passenger compartment as the vehicle travels partway or fully under the truck. Particularly serious types of injury can result in a Texas collision with a heavy truck or school bus. For instance, severe head injuries, crush injuries, spinal cord injuries, lacerations, broken bones, and organ traumas might result from an underride crash.
In other collisions, our Houston collision injury lawyers caution that vehicle ejection might result. The U.S. NHTSA indicated in a 2008 report that 77% of vehicle occupants ejected during a crash suffer fatal injury.
Vehicle occupants who remain restrained by seatbelts in the enclosed vehicle could suffer serious lacerations, fractures, burn injuries, soft tissue traumas, or whiplash. Occupants unrestrained by seatbelts will tend to suffer more severe fractures, lacerations, soft tissue traumas, and sometimes crush injuries as they get thrown against the insides of the vehicle and against other occupants or cargo.
Contact the Houston Collision Injury Lawyers at Denena Points, PC for Help after a Serious Crash Injury
The Board Certified personal injury attorneys at Denena Points, PC provide a free initial legal consultation to discuss the specifics of your accident and evaluate your eligibility for the full financial recovery you deserve for your injuries. You have no obligation to hire an attorney. And our 14 years of experience successfully resolving complex injury cases similar to yours could help guide you in making informed decisions about your future after a serious collision. Call us at 713-807-9500 or fill out our easy online contact form to schedule your free initial legal consultation.
Fatal Dump Truck Accidents in Austin and Dallas Highlight Texas Trend
The Texas dump truck accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC report two fatal dump truck accidents in Austin and Dallas to highlight a Texas trend. Research data on fatal heavy truck accidents reveals that dump truck crashes account for a substantial proportion of them, up to 33%. And most of these crashes occur in urban neighborhoods at intersections or where dump trucks enter and exit alleyways and other drives. Click the link to learn some important facts about heavy truck accidents.
On Tuesday afternoon in east Austin, Texas, a dump truck collided with a white sedan at the intersection of east MLK and E.M. Franklin Avenue and killed Ricky Monroe, 49. The crash also seriously injured a woman in the sedan. Our Texas dump truck accident attorneys are saddened to report that Mr. Monroe was Austin’s 57th traffic fatality of 2013, up from 52 fatalities at this time in 2012. (Source: Alex Penrose, KXAN, 9.12.13) We express our condolences to Mr. Monroe’s family and friends.
Also on Tuesday, in the morning around 11, a dump truck crashed into a white Lexus 350 on I-635 (LBJ Freeway) in Dallas near Marsh Lane. The dump truck, owned by Rizo Trucking of Garland, a subcontractor on the LBJ Express construction project, had just dumped a load when it went across a concrete divider and landed on the Lexus and another small car. The Lexus was pinned at the front of the truck, and the Mazda was trapped under the back of the truck on the other side of LBJ.
Our Texas dump truck accident attorneys sadly note the passing of Mr. And Mrs. TD Mullikin, Jr. of Trophy Club, who were in the Lexus and died at the scene of the tragic accident. We also report that Mr. Daniel Cerean, in the other car trapped by the heavy dump truck, was seriously injured in the crash. A Hazmat unit was also on the scene of the deadly heavy truck accident cleaning the large amount of diesel fuel that spilled from the truck in the wreck. (Sources: Robert Wilonsky, The Dallas Morning News; nbcdfw.com; and myfoxdfw.com, 9.10.13)
The Texas dump truck accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC have the deepest sympathies for the family and friends for the Mullikins in their time of loss. And our thoughts and prayers are also with Mr. Cerean and his family as he recovers from his injuries.
The Hazards of Driving in a Construction Zone like the LBJ Express Project
Dallas drivers have come to appreciate the dangers of traveling through the confusing construction zone of the LBJ Express construction project. That the dump truck jumped the concrete divider after dumping a load might indicate that driver fatigue was a contributing cause of the accident. But driver inattention as the trucker was coming off a job could also be to blame. Driver over-correction trying to evade an obstacle, driver medical conditions, or truck equipment failure are among the many other possible contributing factors to the wreck. Our Texas dump truck accident attorneys emphasize that a thorough accident investigation is required to be sure.
Driving through construction zones with the sudden bottlenecks and slow downs they require can be dangerous. Not just for drivers, but also for the workers in the construction zones. That’s part of the reason the Texas legislature just passed the new move over/slow down law relating to active TxDOT work sites.
Massive Costs Left in the Wake of a Devastating Dump Truck Crash and What to Do to Cope
When you or your loved ones have been harmed by a devastating dump truck accident, our Texas dump truck accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC understand that you might find unexpected difficulties in proving what seemed like your clear and valid personal injury or wrongful death claim.
In most heavy truck accidents, the driver who was in control of the truck at the time of the wreck will be at fault for the crash. When the driver is at fault, his employer could also be found legally liable for your injuries or losses through the doctrine of respondeat superior. This means that the employer is legally responsible for his employee’s actions while the driver is on the job for him.
The massive injuries and devastating loss of lives left in the wake of a serious heavy truck accident can leave families with huge medical bills and financial losses. The dump truck’s insurance policy, as well as the assets of the employer, could help pay for these enormous financial losses you’re suffering.
One thing that an experienced Texas dump truck accident attorney might look for in his investigation of the wreck is the driver’s prior violations. Serious driving violations like excessive speeding, reckless driving, or prior crashes could be used as evidence that the driver should have been disqualified from driving at the time of the wreck. A record of prior driving violations goes to employer liability as well, possibly indicating negligent hiring or failure to comply with regulations.
Obstacles Victims and Their Families Face as They try to Obtain Just Compensation after a Serious Dump Truck Crash
Insurance companies are very conscious of their bottom lines and profits. The companies are not happy to pay out huge amounts of compensation after a devastating heavy truck accident. To protect their high dollar truck insurance polices, the insurance companies might send aggressive insurance adjusters out to try to get you to make statements that would indicate that you or your family members were at fault in the accident.
Texas follows the rule of modified comparative negligence in determining fault and liability. When an accident victim can be found to be at least 50% responsible for causing the accident, then the insurance company does not have to pay the victim anything.
But in some crashes, even the most creative use of victim statements can’t shift the blame sufficiently to deflect a truck driver’s liability and the insurance company’s responsibility to pay. So the insurance adjuster could try to take advantage of your inexperience with such accidents and your emotional distress after a serious wreck to pressure you into accepting a fast cast settlement that greatly undervalues your claim. Or the insurance adjuster might try to get you to release your rights altogether.
Without the guidance of your experienced Texas dump truck accident attorney, you shouldn’t make any statements, sign anything, accept any settlements, or speak with opposing parties to the claim. Once you have accepted an undervalued settlement or released your rights, your action generally cannot be undone.
Contact the Experienced Texas Dump Truck Accident Attorneys at Denena Points, PC when You Face a Personal Injury or Wrongful Death Claim after a Serious Wreck
Our Texas Board Certified personal injury attorneys will meet with you to provide a free and confidential initial legal consultation to discuss the specifics of your heavy truck accident and evaluate your potential eligibility for the full financial recovery you deserve after your needless injuries and losses. You have no obligation to hire an attorney. And our 14 years of experience could provide the foundation you need to make informed decisions for your family following a serious wreck.Call us at 713-807-9500 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free legal consultation.
In Rusk County, Another Rear End Crash with a Semi Truck Claims a Life
Tuesday night a little after 11, Rudy Huddleston of Troup, Texas drove his Nissan Sentra into the back of a stopped tractor-trailer truck at the intersection of State Highways 64 and 42. Mr. Huddleston was pronounced dead at the scene of the tragic crash near Henderson in Rusk County. (Source: Tyler Morning Telegraph and KYTX CBS 19, 9/5/13) The East Texas wrongful death truck accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC express their condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Rudy Huddleston.
Mr. Huddleston’s tragic death was the second in a matter of days where a Texas driver fatally rear-ended a stopped tractor-trailer truck at night. Studies have shown that when such fatal truck wrecks occur, more than half the trucks have had previous lighting violations. Accounts of these two tragic wrecks did not indicate whether the trucks had working lights on their trailers or not.
Rudy Huddleston’s death is also one of about 20 Rusk County traffic deaths so far this year. Crash data reveals that traveling on Rusk County roads is about 6 times more deadly than average for U.S. roadways. Our East Texas wrongful death truck accident attorneys note that the average traffic fatality total in the U.S. is 5 per 100,000 people per year. Rusk County in East Texas has a population of only 60,000, but had already seen 17 traffic deaths by July. The numbers were so disturbing that county authorities hosted a summit to try and determine what was behind the disproportional fatality numbers and what to do about it.
By comparison with the current year, TxDOT said that in 2011, 751 crashes occurred in Rusk County. Of those, 12 accidents were fatal. Our East Texas wrongful death truck accident attorneys point out that the county had already surpassed the total number of 2011 Rusk County traffic deaths by the first half of 2013.
Rusk County probably suffers from a confluence of characteristics:
- Winding East Texas roadways with lots of trees, animals in the roadway, and shorter sightlines;
- The narrow, rural highways that traditionally account for the largest proportion of fatal crashes across the state of Texas;
- Large amounts of heavy tractor-trailer truck traffic;
- Drunken driving; and
- Distracted driving.
Click the link to read more about the high number of Rusk County traffic deaths and the traffic summit held by authorities there.
Two Construction Workers Injured in Fall after Brunswick Roof Collapse
A construction worker helping to build a storage addition onto Custom Decks by Klassic on Center Road in Brunswick, Ohio fell around 20 feet on Thursday morning about 8:30 and received serious injuries to his head, chest, and wrist when the roof collapsed. He was hospitalized in stable condition. The building collapse injury attorneys at Denena Points, PC note that another worker also received injuries and was treated at the scene of the Brunswick roof collapse.
The construction of the addition had been subcontracted to On Site Management. The two workers were in the process of installing the trusses on the addition when the roof collapse occurred. The trusses formed part of a pre-engineered system and came with manufacturer’s instructions regarding proper installation and assembly.
The manufacturer’s instructions said to put in lateral and gable end supports before installing the trusses. But the chief building inspector for the city of Brunswick indicated that the construction team had not followed these instructions and had not installed supports.
According to the chief inspector, only one temporary brace had been placed in the structure when a project of the size of the addition would have required several temporary braces at that stage of construction to be safe. The workers also had not been using hard hats or safety anchors while they worked, both safety violations. And our building collapse injury attorneys point out that neither the On Site Management contractor or Project Manager was on site at the time of the accident.
OSHA was investigating the Brunswick roof collapse accident. The chief building inspector said that the contractor and project manager could likely expect several safety violation citations. (Source: Melissa Martin, The Post Newspapers, 9/5/13)
Construction workers’ employers are responsible for providing proper training and equipment to ensure their safety. If workers are injured because employers failed to provide adequate training or safety equipment, the employer could be liable for the full financial value of the worker’s injuries and pain from resulting accident. Continue to Part 2 to learn more.
Holding Employers Liable in Roof Collapse Injury Cases
Continued from Part 1. Falling is one of the Fatal Four most frequent causes of construction worker deaths and injuries. U.S. OSHA has sought to reduce the numbers of construction worker deaths and injuries from falls by promulgating detailed rules that employers must follow to ensure their workers’ safety. Chief among these rules are extensive requirements regarding worker training, safety equipment, and fall prevention measures.
When a serious accident occurs and OSHA investigates, OSHA can fine the employer for any safety violations it finds, as the agency seems likely to do for the roof collapse in Brunswick. But OSHA’s investigations and fines won‘t directly help the injured workers. To hold the employer financially responsible for causing the injuries by failing to provide proper training and safety equipment, the workers generally need their own roof collapse injury attorneys who are experienced with the complexities of structural collapse cases and safety requirements.
Let’s Look at Some of the Common Factors in Roof Collapse Injury Cases
The recent roof collapse in Brunswick on an addition under construction that injured two construction workers clearly reveals the critical importance of adequate temporary bracing during construction and demolition operations.
The disastrous, deadly demolition collapse of a Philadelphia building into a Salvation Army Thrift Store has also been attributed in part to lack of adequate temporary bracing while the building was being taken down. Numerous reports have indicated that the entire demolition operation seems to have been hasty and improperly done. Lack of adequate bracing was only one of the problems.
And the lack of proper temporary bracing seems to go back in part to disputes between the lawyers of the building owner and demolition company and the Salvation Army. The lawyers were still wrangling about how to best proceed on the job when the demolition workers decided to get started anyway. Our roof collapse injury attorneys note that it’s not as unusual as you might think for clients to disregard the advice and admonitions of their lawyers and to simply go ahead with what they want rather than what might be most beneficial.
Improper Roof Truss Installation and Roof Collapses
When installing roof trusses, it’s important to properly calculate the loads that the trusses will have to support. Builders should also see to proper temporary bracing as we’ve mentioned, and to proper connections to the building’s other supporting members.
Building experts warn against the common habit of storing building materials and equipment on the roof and its trusses during construction. Such overloading, especially in combination with weak bracing, can lead to sudden roof collapses.
Pre-engineered roof trusses are a common feature in the building industry and are often pre-ordered and delivered to a building site. As the Brunswick roof collapse demonstrates, it’s vital to construct and install roof trusses in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and design documents. Our roof collapse injury attorneys emphasize that the manufacturer’s designers and engineers spent time accurately calculating weight loads, spans, and spacing of the pre-engineered roof trusses for a good reason.
Installation errors, damage to a truss or a component, or field modifications by construction workers to accommodate (for example) skylights, chimneys, or other roof openings could drastically affect the weight load that a truss can support. The roof could suddenly collapse and cause catastrophic or fatal injuries from falls and entrapment under heavy debris.
Contact the Experienced Roof Collapse Injury Attorneys at Denena Points, PC with Your Questions about a Serious Injury after a Structural Collapse
With 14 years of experience on complex personal injury and wrongful death cases, we understand building codes, OSHA worker safety regulations, and inspection requirements. We know how to establish the weaknesses in employer training and equipment provision that could help you prove your case.
Our roof collapse injury attorneys’ in-depth investigation could pinpoint the precise causes of your injuries and those responsible for them. Call us at 713-807-9500 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a FREE, no obligation legal consultation to discuss your accident and evaluate your eligibility for a full financial recovery for your injuries.
Continue to Part 3 to learn more about roof trusses and how they should work.
Roof Trusses, Worker Training, and Roof Collapse Accident Injuries
Continued from Part 2. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for workers assembling and installing pre-fabricated or pre-engineered structures to disregard some or all of the manufacturer’s instructions. The roof collapse injury lawyers at Denena Points, PC emphasize that this disregard frequently leads to collapse of the structure and to severe injuries even before the building gets completed.
Manufacturers provide the instructions based on their tests of things like stress tolerances, connector strength, and support spacing to ensure the safety both of workers and those who will use the completed structure. Proper roof truss installing in a building under construction requires properly trained and skilled crewmembers to build a safe and sturdy roof support system. Part of this effort requires employers to properly train their workers. Our roof collapse injury lawyers point out that the employers must train their workers to follow manufacturers’ instructions when installing pre-engineered building elements.
Cutting or modifying a single member of a roof truss system, for instance, will compromise the structural integrity of the structure. But it won’t necessarily lead to a catastrophic roof collapse. Our roof collapse injury lawyers note that a more common contributor to collapse is improper temporary or permanent bracing against walls and girders.
Structural Elements of Roof Support
- Joist – a horizontal support beam that extends from wall to wall, from a wall to a support beam, or between two beams.
- Rafter – a sloped structural support in a roof that extends from the ridgeline down to the perimeter or eaves. A rafter serves to support the roof and its load.
- Truss – a stress bearing support member consisting of triangular units connected by straight, linear units. The construction industry uses trusses for framing roofs and for ridges. Roof trusses support and stabilize a roof structure. Trusses take the stress of the roof load off of the connecting walls.
Ceiling joists and rafters together can form triangular roof trusses. But as in the Brunswick addition, contractors can also order pre-engineered roof trusses that are made offsite. Our roof collapse injury lawyers mention that these variations in the roof framing components have a common purpose: to support the roof and any load the roof itself might bear. The intersecting angles, particularly in the triangular truss formation, distribute the stress load, rather than sending it all straight out to the walls of the structure, which would force the walls outward and apart, leading to a structural collapse.
When the roof framing arrangement does not work properly, or is improperly installed or braced, the roof might give way and collapse, as just occurred in Brunswick. Click the link to learn more about the critical importance of strong roof truss systems.