Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer - Workplace Injuries

Updates on Atlanta Botanical Garden Walkway Collapse

Jessica Smagacz — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:33:24 GMT

About seven months ago, a walkway collapsed at the Atlanta Botanical Garden that resulted in one death and 18 injures. Please see our past blog here.

Latest update come from Atlanta Journal-Constitution: OSHA is now made the decision to delay fines for three Georgia companies who were cited for their role in this deadly collapse.

The three companies are Hardin Construction Company of Atlanta, Williams Erection Company of Smyrna and Southeast Access of Kennesaw. They were scheduled on Tuesday to turn over a total of $26,250 to OSHA. All three companies have filed appeals and not these fines will be postponed.

The OSHA will not hold a hearing and each company will present evidence before a judge to show they are not at fault. No hearing has been scheduled yet.

The companies were originally cited by OSHA because they found “serious” problems with the environment its employees were working in.

Attorneys at Childers & Schlueter continue to investigate and represent victims of this tragic yet preventable Georgia bridge collapse accident. Anyone with information about this incident or with questions pertaining to it are encouraged to contact M. Brandon Smith.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

Georgia Worker Killed by Car Dealership Forklift

Jessica Smagacz — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:33:41 GMT

Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reported that a car dealership in a Clayton County experienced a tragic accident.

One of the workers at a car dealership, Pars Car Sales on Southlake Parkway, was teaching another employee how to drive the forklift last week on Thursday.

As one employee was showing the other employee how to drive, one of the workers was run over.

AJC said that the police investigated the death and said it appeared accidental.

Right now, no charges have been filed.

Police spokesman Tim Owens said that officers are still trying to identify the victim and the driver but both of these employees did not speak English.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating this incident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

A worker’s story as Atlanta Garden Walkway Collapsed

Jessica Smagacz — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:10:24 GMT

Last month while construction workers were working on building a “Canopy Walk” attraction at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, part of the structure gave way and collapsed.

This accident tragically took one worker’s life while eighteen others were injured. Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Federal officials are still investigating the cause of this tragic accident.

Check out our past post: Walkway Collapsed at Atlanta Botanical Garden Resulting in 1 death, 18 injuries.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on one of the worker’s version of what happened that day. Tony Stovall landed on a “tangle of reinforced steel.” This steel was being used in the walkway he and the other construction workers were working on.

Tony Stovall said, “I bounced.” He is now using crutches and a brace for his chest and fractured back. He also has a special boot covering his fractured lower right leg.

Stovall said that when the walkway collapsed, many people were screaming. He laid on the ground, waiting for the firefighters to take him away in a stretcher.

Thankfully, no one was paralyzed in the terrible accident. Tony Stovall did not arrive home for Christmas but he and his wife had a late Christmas. His presents remained unopened when he came home. Doctors say that Tony Stovall will need to continue to wear his brace until his back is ok again. His leg is not fully mended either.

This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts are with those workers injured and their families. We wish Tony Stovall a fast recovery.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

Walkway Collapsed at Atlanta Botanical Garden Resulting in 1 death, 18 injuries

Jessica Smagacz — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:05:23 GMT

Construction workers have been working on building a “Canopy Walk” attraction at the Atlanta Botanical Garden so visitors can walk among the trees. Unfortunately earlier today as workers were pouring concrete for the walkway (600-foot-long, 40-foot-high), part of the structure gave way and collapsed, Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

Nearby residents reported hearing a huge crashing sound along with shouts from the workers. At the time of the accident, no visitors were present.

With a chaotic scene, fire and rescue officials were able to remove all victims within 55 minutes. The Atlanta firefighters had to cut a hole in a nearby fence to reach the injured. 15 patients were taken to the Grady memorial Hospital and one arrived at the hospital on his own. As a result of this tragic accident, two workers have brain injuries that Atlanta Journal Constitution reports could be life-threatening. Some victims have head or spinal injuries. Another victim has liver injuries and the Hospital’s deputy chief of surgery said many workers have injuries to their arms and legs and some workers said they fell 40 feet or more to the ground.

There are reports that two other workers were taken to the Atlanta Medical Center; one is in serious condition while the other is in fair condition.

Residents of Park lane, a residence near the Botanical Garden, say that the construction of this walkway has been a controversial issue in the neighborhood and this accident more than likely will fuel more debate.

With this tragic accident, many are questioning what went wrong.

Hardin Construction has signs on the work site, Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that indicates they are involved in the project as well as Pioneer Concrete Pumping Service.

This is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts are with those workers injured and their families.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz