A pedestrian bridge located at Florida International University suddenly collapsed on vehicles below injuring dozens and causing several fatalities. The bridge was recently constructed and was just opened to the public this past Saturday on FIU’s campus. Little information is known about the root cause at this time. Witnesses reported that dozens of vehicles may still be alive or trapped beneath the rubble. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue along with first responders were still trying to get beneath the 950 plus tons of concrete wreckage. A witness to the accident contacted our law firm and sent us this photograph seconds after the bridge crumbled.
Construction sites, accidents, rules and regulations are governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). OSHA is the primary federal agency assigned with promulgating rules and safety enforcement regulations in the workplace. In this case, when a bridge and construction accident occurs, OSHA conducts a comprehensive investigation. This usually takes many months to complete but eventually will reveal how this tragic event occurred, how it could have been prevented, and what specific violations of OSHA’s regulations may have been violated. OSHA’s duties, include protecting workers as well as enforcing safety laws for the benefit of the general public. Companies who violate OSHA safety regulations may expose themselves to legal liability, which can include civil and criminal penalties. Miami, Florida has been subject to many construction site accidents but this one is by far the most serious and tragic construction accident event in recent memory.
While it is too early to know how or why this specific tragedy occurred, the mere fact that this bridge collapsed is a prime example of the legal doctrine known as as “Res Ipsa Loquitur”, which means “the negligence speaks for itself”. Bridges simply do not collapse in the absence of some sort of negligence. The personal injury law offices of Gerson and Schwartz, PA specialize representing serious injury and wrongful death victims due to construction defects and industrial accident related tragedies. Our construction accident attorneys in Miami are familiar with OSHA rules and regulations and how to prove negligence in industrial and construction accident cases. If you or a loved one were the victim of the FIU bridge collapse or another type of construction accident case, then contact our Miami law offices today for a free consultation. Call us today at (877) 475-2905 or email us at info@gslawusa.com for help. Walk in clients are also accepted. Our personal injury offices are located at 1980 Coral Way in Miami, Florida. You may also visit our website at www.injuryattorneyfla.com. Se Habla Espanol.