Any employee deserves to be kept safe in his or her workplace. For potentially dangerous jobs like construction, employers have a special obligation to maintain an injury-free work environment. Unfortunately, industrial accidents remain one of the most common workplace injuries in the United States.

A recent tragedy in New York highlights the importance of minimizing occupational hazards in construction sites. While working on a project that extends a subway line, a crane collapsed, killing one employee, 30-year-old Michael Simermeyer. Another worker suffered serious injuries, and three more were treated for minor injuries. An investigation is underway to discover the cause of the collapse, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is inspecting other cranes used by the city.

In 2008, two separate incidents involving collapsed cranes killed a total of nine workers. The owner of those cranes is being tried in court for manslaughter. If you or a loved one has suffered from injuries at a construction site, or a wrongful death from the result of a company’s negligence, we can help you bring the responsible parties to justice. Contact our construction accident lawyers at the McMinn Law Firm for more details.

Pet owners are responsible for the actions of their pets, which is why it’s important to train animals before taking them out in public and to always use a leash. Even a seemingly harmless dog bite can have severe consequences, especially if the dog has rabies.

A family in College Station is currently dealing with the unfortunate ramifications of a pet owner’s irresponsibility. On Tuesday, April 3, their young boy was attacked by a large brown dog while walking down the street. The dog scratched and bit the child repeatedly before running away. Witnesses saw two men in a red car retrieve the dog and drive away.

The College Station police department and Animal Control are currently attempting to find the dog in order to rule out rabies, but situation will remain difficult and complicated until the owners of the dog come forward.

Animal bites can be extremely stressful situations, especially until rabies is ruled out. If you or someone you know has been bitten by a dog, you deserve fair representation in court. Contact the McMinn Law Firm today.

Construction areas are some of the most dangerous places in the world, especially if companies neglect to follow basic safety laws to keep workers out of harm’s way. A recent accident in Mississippi has brought attention to this fact: Andy Gammon, a 35-year-old construction worker recently fell from a barge into the Mississippi River while working on a project.

According to witnesses and fellow employees, Gannon was working on a bridge while on an aerial man lift when the equipment fell into the water one morning. The accident has prompted a federal investigation of the company’s safety standards for workers. Although Gannon had been wearing a life jacket, it came off shortly after the fall and was recovered later.

His body was recently found in the river between barge tie-ups upstream of the bridge construction site. His body was still tethered to the machinery. 

Construction companies have a legal obligation to provide safe working conditions for their employees. If they don’t and your loved one died as a result of a construction accident, you  can file for wrongful death. This unfortunate accident demonstrates why it’s so important to hold companies accountable. If you have been in an accident on a construction site or have a wrongful death case, we’ll help you. Contact The McMinn Law Firm today.

As of June 1, Chapel Hill in North Carolina will become the first city to ban all cell phone use while driving, a move that could pave the way for other cities and states to pass similar ordinances. The city will prohibit usage of all cell phones and wireless devices for making calls, texting, changing a music selection, using the Internet, and playing games.

Several cities and states have placed more restrictions on cell phone usage while driving in recent years as the number of distracted driving accidents climb. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently encouraged states to enact a cell phone use bans. Most states have already placed restrictions on phone use for younger drivers.

 Chapel Hill’s restrictions include multiple exceptions: an individual can make and answer calls if they are speaking to police, an emergency rescue team, a hospital, a doctor’s office, a parent, a child, a legal guardian, or a spouse. Hopefully Chapel Hill’s ban will drastically reduce instances of distracted driving and serve as an example for other communities.

Contact McMinn Law Firm if you or your loved one has been the victim of a distracted driver accident, so we can help you get the justice you deserve.