Last month, a 53-year-old construction worker was tragically killed when a crane collapsed at a construction site in Oxnard.
According to battalion chief Sergio Martinez of the Oxnard Fire Department, the accident was reported at 1:42 p.m. in the 3000 block of Camino Del Sol. Fire crews from the Ventura County Fire Department also arrived at the accident scene with machinery and equipment needed to carry out what was initially deemed a “technical rescue.”
Martinez said, “They found a crane that had collapsed during the process of the construction. Unfortunately, it did strike what appears to be one of the construction workers, and we did confirm a fatality.”
Reports of the accident say that 10 to 15 crew members were on the job site when the crane fell. Martinez said the California Division of Occupational Health and Safety Administration (Cal-OSHA) will investigate the incident to determine what caused the crane to fall.
Cal-OSHA will have up to six months to finish the investigation and decide whether to issue citations for workplace safety. Martinez expressed that there was initial concern about the safety of the construction site, however, it was later deemed safe enough to conduct an investigation.
Who is Liable?
If Cal-OSHA determines that the accident at the Oxnard construction site was caused by the negligence of a third party, the survivors of the deceased can pursue compensation through a wrongful death or premises liability claim. If the investigation determines that third party negligence didn’t cause the accident, the survivors of the deceased can pursue death benefits through workers’ compensation.
At Schurmer Reese Davies, we are committed to helping clients pursue the compensation they deserve for their wrongful death and premises liability claims. If you have lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, you should get in touch with our legal team to discuss all of your options under the law. Let us put our 45+ years of legal experience to work for you today.
Call (805) 470-1628 to set up your initial consultation with one of our wrongful death lawyers in Oxnard.