Personal Injury Law

Hickory, North Carolina Personal Injury: Collapse of Church Ceiling Sends 12 to the Hospital

12 people were injured on Sunday when a section of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church collapsed during service. Fortunately, non of the injuries were fatal and all of the North Carolina injury victims were treated and released. At least 150 people were at service when the ceiling collapsed.

However, now Catawba County building inspectors are testing the ceiling material to check for asbestos. The Friendship Missionary Baptist Church was built in 1958, which, according to the Hickory Daily Record, a the primary year that asbestos was in use.

Asbestos Exposure
Exposure to asbestos can be dangerous to a person?s health. Asbestos fibers that are inhaled can get trapped in the lungs, which can cause inflammation, scarring, lung cancer, mesothelioma, other forms of cancer, asbestosis, pleural disorders, lung disorders, and even death. People who are constantly around asbestos, either through work or their environment, are the ones at higher risk of developing an asbestos-related illness. However, family members of people that are heavily exposed to asbestos have also been know to contract asbestos-related illnesses through secondary exposure.

Even if no asbestos is found in the ceiling, the church may still decide to remove the ceiling to ensure that a similar collapse accident doesn?t happen in the future. Ceiling and wall collapses can lead to serious head injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, and even death for persons that are hit by failing debris.

Property owners are supposed to make sure there are no hazardous conditions on a premise that can cause serious North Carolina personal injuries or death. Negligent property owners can be held liable for Hickory premises liability or wrongful death.

Church ceiling to be tested for asbestos, HickoryRecord, June 15, 2010

Asbestos possibly present at church where ceiling collapsed, Charlotte Observer, June 15, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Hickory

Premises Liability Overview, Justia

Full post as published by North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog on June 16, 2010 (boomark / email).