Cell towers are a critical part of everyday life in Florida but for those who work on them, they pose serious danger.
There are many jobs that are inherently dangerous. When people think of these hazardous jobs, they often imagine industrial warehouses or construction sites. While these jobs are certainly dangerous, they do not create the risks that cell phone towers do. These towers, which are essential to provide the cell phone service that nearly every American uses every day, must be worked on and maintained just like any other piece of equipment. Workers face a number of dangers when they perform these duties and they often become seriously injured. When they do, they need the help of a Florida personal injury lawyer.
How Dangerous are Cell Phone Towers for Workers?
Currently, there are only roughly 10,000 cell phone workers in the entire country today. These workers do not only work on cell phone towers, but also television, radio, and internet towers. Although there are not nearly as many tower workers as there are in other industries, these workers face a fatality rate that is approximately 10 times that of construction workers, according to ProPublica.
The job of climbing and working on cell phone towers is so dangerous that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has promised to crack down on the industry and ensure that no worker is risking his or her life in exchange for better cell phone service for the public.
Causes of Cell Tower Accidents
There are many common causes of cell tower accidents, but the most common include:
- Falling from extreme heights
- Electrical shock
- Bad weather
- Falling objects
- Equipment failure
- Collapse of cell phone towers
When these accidents occur, it is often due to another person’s negligence and when that is the case, injured individuals and their families can hold those parties liable.
Filing a Claim Against Negligent Parties
It is true that when an accident occurs on the job, workers typically must file a workers’ compensation claim. However, there are times when workers or their families can file a personal injury claim against their employer.
When there is a virtual certainty that injury will result from a certain action, employers can be held liable. This is often the case when employers do not properly train their staff on how to work on these towers safely, or when they do not provide proper safety equipment, such as harnesses.
Additionally, when workers’ compensation claims are denied or the employer did not have workers’ compensation in the first place, injured employees and their families can also hold employers liable. No employer should ever get away with negligent practices, and a personal injury lawyer can help ensure they do not.
Were You or a Loved One Hurt? Our Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help
If you or a family member has been injured in an accident while working on a cell phone tower, you need the help of our Boca Raton personal injury lawyers at Ged Lawyers, LLP. We know how complicated these cases are, but we will work hard to determine who was liable for the accident and secure for you the compensation you need. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a free case review so we can start reviewing your claim.
