Personal Injury Law

Contractor Sued After Daughter's Death

By Beth Janicek

A 12 year old Shasta County resident died in a subdivision construction site incident last summer. Tess Marie Stevens jumped to grab a metal bar which hooks onto front-end loaders and are used to pick up equipment. When she grabbed the bar, it toppled back on her, crushing her skull. Contractor N&T Digmore, Inc. should have been more responsible at the construction site and fenced off the site or chained the equipment. The incident happened after hours, when Tess and three of her friends were able to walk right into the construction site. The manufacturing company, which is Iowa-based was also negligent because there were no warning labels stating the device tips easily.

Due to the overwhelming amount of construction site injuries and deaths, it is imperative for construction companies to take affirmative action in ensuring safety both during operating hours and after the construction site closes for the day. The construction site that Tess was able to enter should have had warnings or blockades to prevent entry into the construction site, hence preventing this terrible tragedy. The front-end loader that crushed Tess' skull is a dangerous piece of equipment. Hopefully instilling knowledge into the community and having construction workers take all safety precautions necessary, such a terrible tragedy will be preventable in the future. Here are safety tips for front-end loaders.

Full post as published by San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyer on June 16, 2008 (boomark / email).