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Cell Tower Accident Lawyers
Cell tower maintenance is one of the most difficult jobs. Climbing cell towers necessitates a high level of physical fitness, nimble fingers, and mental fortitude when scaling heights of up to 2,000 feet above ground level. The Cellular Wireless Market has helped to diversify the employment landscape of several southern states, such as Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.
In today’s technological world, where we are increasingly reliant on our phones, tablets, and other digital gadgets, demand for quicker mobile service and improved networks continues to rise. More cell tower construction and renovations create more employment in the sector but also risk cutting corners and endangering employees.
Cell phone tower-related deaths have risen dramatically in recent years as a result of this. Between 2003 and 2013, there were 108 incidents involving cell towers, resulting in 91 fatalities and 17 injuries, according to the most up-to-date data from the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
It doesn’t need to be this way. In order to keep their staff safe, cell phone companies are required by OSHA to adhere to safety standards.
If you or someone close to you has been harmed or killed as a result of a cell tower incident, we may be able to assist. Our attorneys have extensive expertise in a number of specialty areas. To learn what Texas Personal Injury Lawyers can do for you, call us for a free, no-risk case evaluation immediately.
Potentially Disastrous Hazards: Cell Tower Accidents
Outsourced contractors and tens of thousands of communication tower workers install and maintain roughly 300,000 cell towers in the United States.
Workers who operate cell towers at heights exceeding 2000 feet around electrically charged equipment must also face unfavorable weather and natural obstacles.
Communication tower construction continues to be one of the most hazardous occupations, with over a hundred fatalities reported in the past. The following are some of the most common reasons for a cell tower accident:
- Catastrophic Falls From Great Heights
Because many tall cell towers are built at a height of 2,000 feet or more, workers have no chance of survival if they fall from the tower while climbing it.
- Electrocution
Workers on communication towers are regularly exposed to live electrical wires, which presents a danger of electrocution.
- Falling Objects
Working near the ground while on a project can be just as dangerous as standing hundreds of feet up, as objects can fall from above if a worker drops a tool or inclement weather conditions cause objects to fall.
- Disfiguring Burns
Workers in communication towers are at risk of burns, electrical shock, and other hazards as a result of radio frequency radiation exposure, among other things.
- The Collapse Of A Tower
It’s conceivable that the structure will break down at any moment, especially when there are hard weather conditions.
- Lightning Strikes
Workers should be aware that they could get trapped by bad weather, as it can appear suddenly. The elevation puts workers in the line of fire of possible lightning strikes.
- Faulty Equipment
Such as tower climbing clothing, aerial lifts, and fall protection gear, may produce severe hazards including injuries and death.
- Poor Training
Every worker must be properly trained. Unfortunately, many communication tower employees do not receive adequate training and are killed in avoidable accidents caused by poor judgments on the job.
Many of the safety precautions outlined by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) have reduced tower work’s risks in recent years, preventing problems that might lead to a cell tower accident.
Employees’ Rights To A Safe Work Environment
OSHA has established standards for all employers to follow, ensuring that employees are kept safe at work. In addition to providing training instructions, OSHA advises against proceeding if the condition is deemed to be hazardous.
When workers are compelled to work at night or when the weather makes it hazardous not to employ numerous of the safety precautions required to avoid workplace dangers, accidents happen.
Worker’s compensation benefits are available to workers who are hurt or killed on the job. These benefits can also assist in the event that a worker dies as a result of an accident.
You may be able to get money for medical expenditures, as well as compensation for avoidable death, permanent disability, and pain and suffering.
Workers and the families of those who were killed in cell tower incidents prefer to hire a lawyer to handle their claims due to their lack of faith that the firm will not try to take away the rights they are entitled to.
Cell Tower Workers Fatalities And Injuries
In 2014, the US Department of Labor highlighted the ever-increasing number of communication tower fatalities in recent years as a result of numerous causes, including faulty fall protection equipment, insufficient training, and overworked workers.
Falling and hitting the ground or other objects are frequent causes of tower accidents, resulting in fatalities and serious injuries.
Defective guide wires, flanges, joints, screws, and base plates caused several cell tower catastrophes. Some workers were injured as a result of a design flaw, contractor negligence, or other personnel who worked on the potentially hazardous building.
The following is a list of recent deadly cell tower incidents (which are referred to as occupational injuries) recorded by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration).
- Heatstroke-Related Death, July 2020
The death of an employee of a utility company occurred when a cell phone tower installer and repairman died of heatstroke while working during a high heat warning while operating a backhoe at a building site.
- Communication Tower Fall, November 2019
On November 16, 2019, at 4:30 p.m., a cell tower employee fell about 90 feet from a communication tower while attaching a leg piece. The fall resulted in fatal injuries.
- Cell Tower Death, July 2019
While lowering a 230-foot communication tower, a 41-year-old communications tower worker plummeted to his death from approximately 80 feet above the ground.
- Cell Tower Fall, March 2019
- Cell Tower Death, January 2019
- Cell Tower Collapse, April 2018
- Communication Tower Worker Death, December 2017
- Three Cell Tower Deaths, September 2017
- Spider Basket Injury, February 2017
- Cell Tower Fatal Fall, June 2016
- Cell Tower Death, May 2016
- Cell Tower Fatal Fall, May 2016
OSHA has a long list of cell tower incidents that have resulted in catastrophic injuries to cell tower employees, including traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, spinal cord damage, organ damage, fractures and crushed bones, and burns from electrical exposure.
Many cell tower accident victims suffer from emotional trauma, mental anguish, and post-traumatic stress that can last a lifetime in addition to the physical damage.
Worker's Compensation And Cell Tower Accident Liability
Who is legally accountable when a construction employee or installation worker falls or dies while working on the tower? When turf vendors and subcontracted workers do the work, determining who may be lawfully held liable might be complicated.
Outside contractors install and maintain cell towers and antennas for many cell carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Mint Mobile, Metro, Boost Mobile, Consumer Cellular, and Xfinity Mobile.
In certain circumstances, cell phone carriers hire subcontractors through a chain of command that includes other subcontractors. In most situations, an injured tower worker or relatives of a deceased employee may receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, hospital bills, and burial costs.
If you have suffered a workplace accident, you may be eligible for additional compensation. By filing a workers’ compensation claim against all parties, including major carriers responsible for the victim’s losses, you may seek financial recovery. A worker’s-compensation attorney knowledgeable in employee injuries can identify liability and ensure that all those involved in bringing about the harm are held responsible.
Hiring An Attorney Can Help Maximize Financial Compensation
Is it necessary to hire an attorney if I’m already receiving worker’s compensation? For-profit insurance companies frequently search for any available alternatives to reduce the injured employee’s monthly or weekly payment, and they pay benefits through the worker’s compensation system.
- Insurance companies might demand you to see a doctor that is in their best interests.
- The insurance company may decide not to pay for more costly medical and surgical treatments that would allow you to fully recover.
- Workers’ compensation benefits do not cover your pain and suffering.
- The insurance may try to restrict your benefits from the moment you were hurt until you are somewhat healed, disregarding any future medical treatments and physical therapy you may require.
If you choose to handle your own personal injury claim, you may miss out on valuable benefits like workers’ compensation and seek additional money from other parties.
How Texas Personal Injury Lawyers May Be Able To Help You
If you have been injured in a cell tower accident, Texas Personal Injury Lawyers will work to show responsibility and demand compensation for your medical expenditures, loss of earnings due to the injury, or other damages. We will work to acquire the evidence necessary to demonstrate how your or your loved one’s injury or death was caused by negligence, and how proper implementation of OSHA safety rules could have prevented it.
Don’t wait any longer to contact our attorneys for a FREE consultation if you or someone you know was hurt or killed as a result of a cell tower accident. You might be entitled to compensation.