Personal Injury Lawyers > Personal Injury Blog > Construction Accidents > Man Injured in San Diego Walkway Collapse Construction Accident Dies of Injuries

Personal Injury Blog

Man Injured in San Diego Walkway Collapse Construction Accident Dies of Injuries

Last summer, a pedestrian walkway under construction in San Diego collapsed, leaving at least 16 people injured. One of the three people who was seriously injured in the collapse has died in the hospital.

49-year-old Tyrone Allen had been hospitalized with severe trauma after the accident that occurred on an East Village street on August 28th last year. On Wednesday, Allen died from complications resulting from his injuries. The collapse had left two other women with severe traumatic injuries. When the walkway collapsed, there were at least 20 people standing on it. The walkway had been built right next to the construction site of an apartment complex. It was built so that pedestrians would be protected from falling construction debris. There was more than the usual number of people on the walkway because it was lunch hour. According to victims who were standing on the walkway, there was some swaying, and then the walkway collapsed suddenly taking down all people walking or standing on it. There was no warning of the impending fall, and no time at all for the unfortunate pedestrians to save themselves from injury. Those who were wounded reported injuries that ranged from minor scratches and fractures, to severe trauma. Many of the victims using the walkway were residents of a homeless shelter just across the street, who were using the walkway during lunch hour.

The accident did not result in any fatalities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration did begin investigations into the accident like it does after a construction accident of this size involving severe and multiple injuries. Those investigative reports haven’t yet been filed, and are expected to be presented in a few weeks’ time. After the collapse, the construction site was temporarily closed down by Allgire General Contractors, who were the contractors for the project. Since the collapse, it has been revealed that it was not the first time that the company had been cited for construction hazards at the workplace that resulted in fatalities. The exact same construction site where the walkway collapsed had earlier seen a fine of $200 levied on the company. Another prior violation was found at an Allgire construction site in Encinitas where the company was cited for not having provided a guardrail for workers. The pedestrian walkway collapse did not result in any injuries to the company’s workers.

A construction site can be one of the most dangerous workplace sites. Scaffolding collapses can injure workers, and others in the vicinity, and workers can fall from elevated heights. Trenches can cave in and collapse trapping workers beneath. Electrocutions when workers come into contact with live power lines and when defective power tools are used are also commonly seen on a construction site. Workers who are injured on a construction site may be eligible for compensation from parties who have been responsible for their injuries, excluding their employer. There could be architects and designers who were responsible for the site plan, or manufacturers of defective equipment who may be named in a construction accident lawsuit.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of construction accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

---