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Construction sites have more inherent safety hazards to keep track of than most workplaces, between industrial machinery, electrical systems, flammable gas, and heavy objects in motion. That said, if construction companies could handle just one safety issue perfectly, falls would be the one to choose. Falls are the leading cause of work-related death for construction workers. Making a thorough plan for how to execute a multi-story project, providing the right training and equipment for the job, and enforcing good fall safety policies on site are all bare-minimum steps a construction company can take to save lives. No one should ever have to settle for less consideration than that in their workplace.
If you live or work anywhere near the 124-year-old Tomochichi Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Savannah, you’re probably already well aware of its ongoing renovation. Originally scheduled to be finished within a year, the project has already exceeded that timeline and is estimated to be only about half finished.
In addition to the expected disruptions to traffic, parking, and noise levels that accompany most construction, the courthouse renovation project forced a temporary shutdown to all business within a one-block radius back in February, when one of the building’s temporary structural supports failed unexpectedly.
Thankfully, no one was hurt in that incident — but the same can’t be said about the latest structural failure. On April 11th, a section of the courthouse’s third floor collapsed, dropping four construction workers onto the floor below.
All four survived but were seriously injured. Footage from the scene shows firefighters rescuing one of the victims from the second-floor wreckage by dragging them across a fire engine ladder on a stretcher. The building is now awaiting inspection by a structural engineer before work resumes.
No matter how far behind schedule or over budget this project may be at this point, fall protection for these workers should have been a given. This accident, like so many comparable ones in the industry, should never have been allowed to happen.
It’s easy, and maybe not unjustified, to cast blame on the construction company, Brasfield & Gorrie, for the accident at the Savannah Courthouse.
After all, this isn’t the first potential safety issue the project has encountered on their watch, and the same company was involved in a similar accident five years ago, when a worker fell 55 feet from a scaffold in Kennesaw.
However, employers are generally immune to personal injury lawsuits for on-the-job accidents like this one. Injured employees can collect worker’s compensation instead, but worker’s comp payments only cover medical expenses and possibly some lost income, never the full value of the victim’s losses.
For this reason, it’s always worth looking past the employer to see who else might have contributed to a serious accident. In the case of the courthouse collapse, for example, good legal counsel for the survivors would ask:
In cases where a victim’s employer is just one of the responsible parties for an accident, the victim has the right to sue the other parties for full compensation, in addition to collecting the quicker, smaller worker’s comp settlement.
If you are one of the survivors of the Tomochichi Federal Building collapse, or if you have also been injured while performing construction work in Georgia, reach out to the Stoddard Firm to discuss your options in a free consultation.
A dedicated, ethical advocate who takes on major corporations and global insurers with virtually unlimited resources. Known for high-profile cases featured on Courtroom Viewing Network, this attorney is also a sought-after legal educator, teaching at seminars for top bar associations. Trusted by clients and media alike, they work tirelessly to secure justice and deliver results.
Member of the Atlanta Bar Association, the Georgia Bar Association, and the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
Licensed in Georgia since: 2008
Education: University of Georgia School of Law
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I can’t express enough how good attorneys Keith Evra and Matthew stoddard are as well as the rest of the firm. They took care of me and my family and did everything they could for us and were professional and amazing at what they do. You can count on them to genuinely make you feel like they care about you and will do everything they can for you. If I could give 500 stars I would. If you are debating to choose them for your representation look no further becuase you won’t find a better firm. They are the best.
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I contacted the Stoddard Firm and told them about the accident and explained our family’s situation in detail. They took on the case and did a FANTASTIC job. They were very mindful that this was a very heartbreaking situation for all of us. They made certain our entire family was well informed of everything going on throughout the entire process. They were always very polite, very responsive and never got frustrated whenever a situation arose where we didn’t understand something. They were always very patient and explained any questions or concerns we had at all times. I would highly recommend them to anyone who has experienced the unfortunate need to hire an attorney for this type of situation.
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They are client focused and make sure that you are in the loop every step of the way. We worked directly with Matt Stoddard, Keith Evra, & Shauna Thomas and they were accommodating, understanding, and wonderful. They treat their clients with respect and care and genuinely have your best interest at heart. We weren’t treated as just clients, we were treated as family. Their knowledge and experience with law shows and they know exactly what they are doing. This is a top of the line law firm and you will be extremely satisfied when you choose them for your case.
The Stoddard firm did a extraordinary job on my case. Their whole team is very professional, and will go over and beyond to achieve the greatest results so that the customer is satisfied. Thank you again for making me a priority.
Our experience with The Stoddard Firm was great. Everyone helped us navigate through a stressful situation. Professional and compassionate – the firm worked with and for us. Would recommend them to anyone.
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The Stoddard Firm has been an excellent firm to work with. Everyone there was very professional. I truly appreciate everything that they did to walk me through the process. I know they worked very hard to bring my lawsuit to a favorable conclusion. I especially appreciate Matthew, Janine and Shauna and the dedication to my case.
All the folks at the Stoddard firm were responsive, polite, professional and caring. They handled our case with determination. They handled our family with high regard and respect.
I work with a lot of law firms across the country, and I can say The Stoddard Firm truly cares about all their clients and are invested in seeking justice for them. Their staff is always delightful, and super organized! Class act firm from top to bottom!
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was revised and approved by Attorney Matthew B. Stoddard, who has more than 16 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.
If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, we’re here to help. Fill out the form below, and one of our experienced Atlanta personal injury attorneys will contact you shortly to discuss your case. Call us 678-RESULTS.
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