19 Indiana Construction Accident Deaths in 2008 Too Many for Indiana Construction Accident Lawyer

Thursday, August 20, 2009 by John Daly
Your Indiana Construction Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis Indiana read with interest the IOSHA report that indicated that 132 people died in the workplace in 2008, of which 19 died in Indiana Construction Accidents. Here is a link to the August 20, 2009 Article in the Indianapolis Star.  It was good to see that IOSHA increased its inspections  nearly 70%. Commissioner of Labor Lori Torres and her dedicated staff do a great job given the scope of the challenge and the resources provided to IOSHA. The role of the employer and the general contractors cannot be ignored, however. I was recently at a  deposition involving a fatal head injury and  the witnesses  testified whenever the general contractor required a hard hat to be worn on the job site, it was. This particular General Contractor did not require hard hats, and a fatal head injury was a result.  Here are some reminders from OSHA on preventing work injuries related for failure to provide and require Personal Protective Equipment:

Construction
Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)
Eye and Face Protection
  • Safety glasses or face shields are worn any time work operations can cause foreign objects to get in the eye. For example, during welding, cutting, grinding, nailing (or when working with concrete and/or harmful chemicals or when exposed to flying particles). Wear when exposed to any electrical hazards, including working on energized electrical systems.
  • Eye and face protectors – select based on anticipated hazards.
Foot Protection
  • Construction workers should wear work shoes or boots with slip-resistant and puncture-resistant soles.
  • Safety-toed footwear is worn to prevent crushed toes when working around heavy equipment or falling objects.
Hand Protection
  • Gloves should fit snugly.
  • Workers should wear the right gloves for the job (examples: heavy-duty rubber gloves for concrete work; welding gloves for welding; insulated gloves and sleeves when exposed to electrical hazards).
Head Protection
  • Wear hard hats where there is a potential for objects falling from above, bumps to the head from fixed objects, or of accidental head contact with electrical hazards.
  • Hard hats – routinely inspect them for dents, cracks or deterioration; replace after a heavy blow or electrical shock; maintain in good condition.
Hearing Protection
  • Use earplugs/earmuffs in high noise work areas where chainsaws or heavy equipment are used; clean or replace earplugs regularly.


For more complete information:
OSHAOccupational
Safety and Health
Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA

PPE Saves lives.  If you or a family member was involved in a construction accident in Indiana, please call for a FREE CASE EVALUATION. Worker's Comp is a band aid, but not a cure for the financial devastation a construction accident can cause  to a family.  Our Construction Accident Law firm Indiana represents injured iron workers, masons, laborers, electricians, roofers and other trades in Construction accidents throughout Indiana, including Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Terre Haute and Evansville.  We will help you rebuild your life. 

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Settlement of Indiana Roofing Construction Accident from your Indiana Construction Accident Lawyer Indianapolis Indiana

Monday, July 27, 2009 by John Daly
Your Indiana Construction Accident Lawyer is pleased to announce the settlement of another Indiana Construction accident in Indianapolis. While the amount is confidential, the details of the accident should be conveyed to prevent construction accidents (and construction accident lawsuits in Indiana!) in the future.

Our client, a non-union roofer was seriously injured on December 17, 2005 while clearing snow off of a roof to place roofing paper down. The project was behind schedule, and there was the traditional conflict between speed and safety.  No fall protection was provided, although there may have been some  make-shift fall protection on -site.  OSHA and IOSHA require  fall protection to be installed BY THE EMPLOYER BEFORE WORK BEGINS ON THE ROOF!  This was not done, and a serious injury was the result.  Here are some pointers from OSHA on fall protection:

 Fall Protection Tips
  • Identify all potential tripping and fall hazards before work starts.

     
  • Look for fall hazards such as unprotected floor openings/edges, shafts, skylights, stairwells, and roof openings/edges.

     
  • Inspect fall protection equipment for defects before use.

     
  • Select, wear, and use fall protection equipment appropriate for the task.

     
  • Secure and stabilize all ladders before climbing them.

     
  • Never stand on the top rung/step of a ladder.

     
  • Use handrails when you go up or down stairs.

     
  • Practice good housekeeping. Keep cords, welding leads and air hoses out of walkways or adjacent work areas.
Fall protection
Fall protection
Fall protection
Fall protection


For more complete information:
OSHAOccupational
Safety and Health
Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA

Compensation is no substitute for prevention. However, if you or a family member has been involved in a construction accident involving a fall, Ironworking, road construction, scaffolding, crane operation or other work related injury, please call for a FREE CASE EVALUATION. We represent injured construction workers throughout  Indiana, including our construction accident law firm Indiana headquarters in Indianapolis, Terre Haute, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Evansville and Richmond. BE SAFE! John 
 
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Indiana Construction Accidents Often Involve Hispanic Workers- Your Indiana Construction Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 by John Daly

All Indiana Construction Accident Fatalities are unfortunate but the ones that involve insufficient IOSHA and OSHA training for Hispanic workers are among the most tragic because they are among the most preventable,says your Indiana Construction Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis.  According to a recent article in USA Today, Hispanic worker deaths are up 76% since 1992.  Here is a link to that article. Of these  deaths, 317 were construction accidents, more than twice the next category of transportation and housing.  I know that OSHA  is working hard at providing Spanish language construction accident safety information, and your Indiana Construction Accident Lawyer wants to help in any way he can.

Here are some basic construction safety tips in Spanish:

Consejos para Protección de Caídas
  • Antes de comenzar a trabajar, identifique los riesgos potenciales contra tropiezos y caídas.

     
  • Esté atento a los riesgos de caídas tales como inseguridades en pisos, cubiertas/orillas no protegidas, huecos, tragaluces, escaleras y aperturas en techos/orillas.

     
  • Antes de usar el equipo de protección contra caídas inspecciónelo e identifique los defectos.

     
  • Seleccione, póngase y use apropiadamente el equipo de protección contra caídas para la tárea asignada.

     
  • Asegure y estabilize todas las escaleras antes de subirlas.

     
  • Nunca se pare en el peldaño o escalón superior de una escalera.

     
  • Use las barandas cuando usted suba o baje una escalera.

     
  • Practique buena organización/ limpieza. Mantenga los cables, cables de soldadura y mangas de aire fuera de los pasillos o áreas de trabajo adyacentes.
Fall protection
Fall protection
Fall protection
Fall protection


For more complete information:
OSHAOccupational
Safety and Health
Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA


If you or a loved one has been injured in a workplace accident involving scaffolding, masonry, electricity, trench collapse or iron working, please contact our Construction Accident Law Firm Indiana. We represent injured workers and their families in construction accidents in Indianapolis, South Bend, Fort Wayne, Evansville and Terre Haute. Please review our FREE CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT LAWSUT GUIDE and call with any questions.  BE SAFE and Via con Dios! John

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Six Figure Settlement of Indiana Crane Accident by Your Indiana Construction Accident Lawyer Indianapolis Indiana

Thursday, July 16, 2009 by John Daly

Your Indiana Construction Accident Lawyer is pleased to announce  a six figure settlement of an Indiana Crane Accident in Carmel, Indiana. In the interest of privacy, the injured  construction worker's name and exact settlement amount will not be revealed here.  However, I am proud  to mention that the laborer involved was  initially referred to another attorney who told him his only remedy would be worker's compensation.  This pattern occurs in many of your Indiana Construction Accident Lawyer's cases, where construction workers and  lawyers who do not concentrate on construction accidents do not realize they have a case. That is why we offer a FREE CASE EVALUATION and a FREE GUIDE TO CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS.  

The accident involved a union laborer who was forced to work outside his area of expertise by rigging bundles of re bar for a parking garage under construction. Rigging steel is an iron worker's job, and any rigging requires a qualified person under OSHA and IOSHA. The load slipped and landed on our client, nearly severing his arm. Fortunately he was wearing his hard hat, as the load initially struck his head.

Here is a crane similar to the one involved in the Indiana Construction Accident.

P&H Crane Parts P+H Crane Parts

The construction safety lessons to be learned from this accident is that only trained riggers should be used to rig  loads, that contractors should respect the skill of different  building trades and that  accident prevention begins at the planning and staffing stage of construction.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an Indiana Construction Accident involving a crane, trench collapse, scaffold accident or other work injury, please call. Our Construction accident law firm Indiana represents injured injured construction workers in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne Evansville, Terre Haute and South Bend. At our firm, ALL INJURIES ARE PERSONAL.  Be Safe.
John
    
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Avoiding Nail Gun Construction Accidents from Your Construction Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis Indiana

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 by John Daly
Indiana Construction Accidents frequently involve nail guns, scaffolds, trench collapses and fall protection, although rarely in the same construction accident! Your Indiana Construction accident lawyer  is happy to share a few "pointers" from OSHA in avoiding nail gun accidents.  



 

Pneumatic Nail Gun

SafetyTips

OSHA 3363-4-09

TM

Nail guns drive nails and staples into building materials.

Injuries or fatalities can result from improper use.

Hazards

The operator and coworkers are at risk. Eyes, hands and fingers

are especially at risk. Nails can:

•

Splinter or blow out fragments from the material.

•

Puncture the back of the material.

•

behind the nailing surface.

Fire completely through the material and strike workers

•

Pose contact hazards, such as nails striking electrical wires.

CommonToolTypes

Sequential tools:

depressed before the trigger is pulled.

Require nose (workpiece contact) to be

•

Two-step sequence makes accidental firing less likely.

•

Can be used for most nailing tasks.

Contact tools:

contact) are both depressed.

Tool fires anytime the trigger and nose (workpiece

•

Trigger can be held down to allow “bump firing”.

•

CAUTION:

Use for nailing on flat surfaces.

 

depressed; can also cause unwanted double firing of nails.

If trigger is depressed, the tool will fire anytime the nose is

Safe Work Practices and PPE

•

Follow manufacturer’s tool labels and operating manual.

•

Wear safety glasses with side shields.

•

Never defeat or modify safety features.

•

Keep fingers away from trigger when not driving nails.

•

double firing.

Sequential tools have reduced risk of accidental and

•

position yourself (especially your free hand) out of the line

of fire. Never point nail gun at anyone. Watch for coworkers

behind the nailing surface.

Avoid line of fire hazards in front of and behind material;

•

another work area, or clear jams.

Disconnect the gun to perform maintenance, move to

•

and correct PPE use.

Train on safe operating procedures, proper body placement

•

NOTE: The toolmustmeet applicableOSHA guarding standards.

U.S. Department of Labor

www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA

Occupational

Safety and Health

Administration




 


If you have been injured in an Indiana Construction accident and need to speak with a construction accident lawyer for a FREE CASE EVALUATION, please call. We are the lawyers for Ironworkers, electricians, carpenters and Road construction accident victims throughout Indiana, including our construction accident law firm Indiana headquarters in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend,  Terre Haute and Evansville. If you are hurt, we can help.
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Big Blue Crane Accident Video from Your Construction accident Lawyer Indianapolis Indiana

Monday, April 6, 2009 by John Daly
Crane Accidents in Indiana, and  anywhere else for that matter, tend to produce death or serious work injuries for the crane operator, iron worker or other construction trades involved.  Although I have seen it many times, there is no more serious crane accident than that involving "BIG BLUE".

Here is a link to this staggering crane accident. Several iron workers were killed. Ironically, the footage is reportedly from  an OSHA  construction safety inspector.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a crane accident in Indiana, or a construction site accident involving trench collapse, electrocution, scaffold accident or fall protection, please call your Construction accident Law  Firm Indiana. We represent injured construction workers in Indianapolis, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Hammond, South Bend, Terre Haute and  Bloomington. If you are not sure if you have a  workers compensation claim or a claim against the general contractor or a subcontractor, BE SAFE!  Give us a call.  
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Pipeline Constuction Worker Killed- Comments from Your Construction Accident Lawyer Indianapolis Indiana

Monday, April 6, 2009 by John Daly
Another  Indiana Construction worker was killed last week, this time working on a gas pipeline from Colorado to Ohio.  Here is the news account :

Pipeline worker killed
at Indiana site

Accident happened Wednesday morning

Updated: Friday, 03 Apr 2009, 11:30 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 03 Apr 2009, 4:21 PM EDT

ST. OMER, Ind. (WISH/AP) - State officials are investigating the death of a worker at a natural gas pipeline construction site.

The accident happened Wednesday morning neat Saint Omer in Decatur County, about eight miles northwest of Greensburg. A spokesperson for the Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Company said the 46-year-old victim, Randy Gardner of Olive Springs, Tennessee, was working on the Rockies Express Pipeline -- which will carry natural gas from Colorado to Ohio.

The company said Gardner has been working for them for two years. Gardner was killed when a backhoe lifting a large wooden construction mat fell on him.

Work on the pipeline was shut down Wednesday after the fatal accident.

"The pipeline industry is a very close knit industry. Everyone is family, sometimes figuratively, sometimes literally. It was a shock when we learned of it," said Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Company Spokesperson Leonard Pataki. "We're making counseling available to anyone who needs it. Basically, we're doing everything possible to help with the grieving. Randy was very well liked. He's been with us for a couple of years and been in the industry a long time."

Gardner's coworkers told 24-Hour News 8 they, "lost a great friend."

Sheehan said they have a number of safety officers who travel from site to site every day, but the company said there was not a safety officer on site at the time of the fatal accident.

"We train all our foreman, our workers, in safety. So, from our standpoint, everyone is a safety officer," said Pataki.

Pataki said there's no indication of mechanical problems and nothing was done improperly by the backhoe operator.

The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating.

 

 
Although not a trench collapse accident, accidents involving moving materials and heavy equipment, such as backhoes and cranes can have fatal consequences. I am confident IOSHA will get tothe bottom of this, although it may well be considered  a work injury with only worker's  compensation as a benefit to the construction worker's family.

If you or a loved one have been involved in an Indiana construction accident, please remember that our Construction accident Law firm Indiana represents injured construction workers throughout the state, including Indianapolis, fort Wayne, South Bend, Evansville, Elkhart and Terre Haute. BE SAFE! Call for a free case evaluation.
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Spanish Language Guide to Indiana Construction Accidents from Your Construction Accident Lawyer Indianapolis Indiana

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 by Abogado de Costruccion

Looking For A Construction Accident Lawyer

English

Spanish

 

 

Looking for a Construction Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis Indiana?

¿Está buscando un abogado especializado en accidentes en la construcción en Indianápolis, Indiana?

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 by John Daly

Miércoles 25 de febrero de 2009, por John Daly

Construction Accidents kill or injure thousands of workers each year. The results are catastrophic: medical bills; lost wages and a host of expenses that Worker’s Compensation Insurance does not begin to cover, particularly in Indiana. Under Indiana law, you have a right to a safe construction site workplace. You have the right to seek compensation from those who caused or contributed to your injuries, whether by a general contractor failing to provide a safe workplace, or a more direct injury from another subcontractor’s negligence.

Los accidentes relacionados con la construcción son causa de muerte o de lesiones de miles de trabajadores todos los años. Los resultados son catastróficos: gastos médicos, pérdida de remuneración y multitud de gastos que el Seguro de Compensación del Trabajador no comienza a cubrir, particularmente en Indiana. Bajo la ley de Indiana, tiene el derecho a un sitio de trabajo seguro en la obra. Tiene el derecho a solicitar compensación a quienes ocasionaron o contribuyeron a sus lesiones, se trate de un contratista general que no proporcionó un lugar de trabajo seguro o una lesión más directa por causa de la negligencia de un subcontratista.

Under Indiana’s Workers Compensation Act, both your employer and your co-employees cannot be sued. However, you may be able to bring a “third party” claim against the general contractor or other subcontractors if certain conditions are met. Generally the compensation received in a “third party” claim includes damages for pain and suffering, future wage loss and other items not covered by Indiana’s Worker’s Compensation Act.

Bajo la Ley de Compensación al Trabajador en Indiana, ni su patrón ni sus compañeros de trabajo pueden demandarse. Sin embargo, podría iniciar un reclamo contra un “tercero” en contra del contratista general u otros subcontratistas si se cumplen ciertas condiciones. Generalmente la compensación que se recibe en un reclamo contra un “tercero” incluye daños por dolor y sufrimiento, pérdida de remuneración y otros asuntos no amparados por la Ley de Compensación al Trabajador en Indiana.

 

 

Why File a Construction Accident Lawsuit?

¿Por qué presentar una demanda por accidente en la construcción?

Construction Accident litigation is generally not something that you can handle on your own. Unlike a car accident, you will probably not get a telephone call from an insurance adjuster for the General Contractor making a settlement offer. Your job is to get well and protect your family. It takes lawyers skilled in construction contract analysis, OSHA and IOSHA regulations and jury trials to properly represent you and your family. My experience as an OSHA Authorized Construction safety lawyer can help.

El litigio por un accidente en la construcción por lo general no es algo que usted pueda manejar por sí mismo. A diferencia de un accidente de automóvil, probablemente no recibirá una llamada telefónica de un perito avaluador del seguro con una oferta de arreglo. Su trabajo es reponerse y proteger a su familia. Es necesario contar con abogados especializados en análisis de contratos de construcción, de las regulaciones de OSHA e IOSHA y de juicios con jurado para representarle adecuadamente a usted y su familia. Mi experiencia como abogado autorizado por OSHA especializado en seguridad en la construcción puede resultarle útil.

 

 

What if I Can’t Afford a Construction Accident Lawyer?

¿Qué pasa si no puedo pagar un abogado especializado en accidentes relacionados con la construcción?

You do not need any money to hire a construction site accident lawyer. Our construction site accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. If we do not win your construction site accident case, there is no fee. That means we are careful about what cases we choose, and give our best efforts to get your best possible result.

Usted no necesita dinero para contratar un abogado especializado en accidentes en el ramo de la construcción. Nuestros abogados especializados en accidentes en la construcción trabajan en base a honorarios condicionales. Si no ganamos el caso del accidente en la obra, no hay costo. Eso significa que somos cuidadosos al escoger los casos y hacemos nuestro mejor esfuerzo para que usted obtenga el mejor resultado posible.

What Types of Construction Accidents Are Most Common?

¿Qué tipo de accidentes de construcción son los más comunes?

According to IOSHA, there were 27 Indiana construction accident fatalities and 2900 Indiana non-fatal construction injuries. While these represent a large variety of construction accidents, certain trades seem to be consistently in danger. Ironworkers  tend to be injured during decking operations, handling materials and as a result of inadequate fall protection. Masons tend to be injured by improperly constructed scaffolds. Laborers are often put in dangerous situations and have been killed in trench collapses, scaffold building and hod carrying. Electricians are at risk when working in scissor lifts and when power lines are not properly de-energized or lockout-tagout procedures are not followed. Failure to provide or require proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is another leading cause of Construction injuries in Indiana.

De acuerdo con IOSHA, en Indiana hubo 27 muertes causadas por accidentes en la construcción y 2900 lesiones en accidentes relacionados con la construcción. Aunque estos representan una extensa variedad de accidentes en la construcción, ciertos gremios parecen tener mayor incidencia. Los herreros tienen tendencia a lesionarse durante las operaciones de colocación de plataformas, el manejo de materiales y como resultado de inadecuada protección contra las caídas. Los albañiles están propensos a sufrir lesiones por causa de andamios inadecuadamente construidos. Los obreros a menudo se encuentran en situaciones peligrosas y han muerto en derrumbes de zanjas, construcción con andamios y transportación del capacho. Los electricistas están en riesgo cuando trabajan en elevadores tipo tijera y cuando las líneas eléctricas no han sido adecuadamente desactivadas o no se han observado los procedimientos para bloquear-aislar. Otra causa primordial de lesiones en el ramo de la construcción en Indiana es no proporcionar el equipo de protección adecuado (PPE).

 Can I Sue my Employer for a Construction Site Accident ?

¿Puedo demandar a mi patrón por un accidente en la obra?

Generally no, unless you were intentionally injured, which is very unusual in an Indiana construction accident. In other states, the law is more lenient, and repeated violations and citations may enable you to bring a construction accident lawsuit directly against your employer. However, in Indiana the Worker’s compensation Act bars such claims. It does allow construction site accident lawsuits against general contractors and subcontractors who may have caused or contributed to your injury. Ind.Code. 22-3-2-6.

Generalmente no, a menos que se lesionara intencionalmente, lo cual es muy inusual en un accidente relacionado con la construcción en Indiana. En otros estados, la ley es más indulgente y las violaciones y citaciones repetidas podrían permitirle incoar una demanda por accidentes en la construcción directamente contra su empleador. Sin embargo, en Indiana la Ley de Compensación al Trabajador prohíbe tales reclamos. Sin embargo permite demandas contra los contratistas generales o subcontratistas que hayan ocasionado o contribuido a ocasionarle una lesión por causa de un accidente en la obra. Código de Ind. 22-3-2-6.

Can I be Fired for Filing a Worker’s Compensation Claim for a Construction Accident?

¿Me pueden despedir por introducir un reclamo de Compensación al Trabajador por un accidente en una construcción?

No, in Indiana a worker filing a worker’s compensation claim cannot be fired by his or her employer for filing a worker’s compensation claim for injuries received in a construction accident. In fact, this can be the basis for a separate lawsuit against the employer based on the Indiana Supreme Court decision of Frampton v. Central Indiana Gas Company, 297NE2d 425 (Ind.1973). Again, it is hard to know all your rights in a construction accident without consulting an attorney who has experience in the area.

No, en Indiana un trabajador que presente un reclamo por compensación no puede ser despedido por su patrón por presentar un reclamo de compensación al trabajador por lesiones que hayan ocurrido en un accidente de la construcción. De hecho, esto puede constituir la base para una demanda aparte contra el empleador basado en la decisión de la Corte Suprema en el caso Frampton contra Central Indiana Gas Company, 297NE2d 425 (Ind.1973). De nuevo, es difícil conocer todos sus derechos en un accidente que haya ocurrido en la construcción sin consultar a un abogado que tenga experiencia en el área.

 

 

How Do I know if I Have a Construction Accident Third-Party Case?

¿Cómo sé si tengo fundamentos para constituir un caso contra un tercero en un accidente de la construcción?

The truth of the matter is that you have virtually no way of knowing if you have a case against a third party for the injuries you sustained in a construction site accident. In fact, many of my most valuable cases were turned down by lawyers inexperienced in construction accidents on the mistaken belief that workers compensation benefits were all that the injured worker was entitled to. I will provide a free initial consultation to see if I can help you, and if not, if there is another attorney who can. Just contact me by phone 317 636 6481 or email, jdaly@cohenandmalad.com. If you are looking for a construction accident lawyer in Indianapolis, or throughout Indiana, I can help.

La realidad es que no tiene prácticamente forma de saber si tiene fundamentos para incoar un caso contra un tercero por las lesiones que haya sufrido en un accidente ocurrido en la obra en construcción. De hecho, muchos de mis casos más valiosos habían sido rechazados por abogados sin experiencia en accidentes de construcción con la creencia errónea de que sólo tenían derecho a los beneficios de compensación al trabajador. Ofrezco una consulta gratuita inicial para evaluar si puedo ayudarle, y si no, habrá otro abogado que podrá. Simplemente llámeme por teléfono al 317 636 6481 o escríbame al correo electrónico, jdaly@cohenandmalad.com. Si busca un abogado especializado en accidentes de construcción en Indianápolis o en Indiana, puedo asistirle.

 

 

Many Indiana Construction workers are from the Latino Community. Our Construction accident Law firm Indiana has represented injured and killed construction workers, including Masons, iron workers, electricians and road construction workers throughout Indiana. Although our law firm is in Indianapolis, we represent injured construction workers in work injuries in Fort Wayne, South Bend, Terre Haute, Bedford and Evansville.  I have also represented Latino workers in trench collapse accidents, which have been tragic.  Hopefully this guide will be of some assistance.

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