Construction Accident Victim is Carnegie Hero

Craig Gouker was posthumously honored with the Carnegie Medal for his heroism. Gouker was a construction supervisor for a site in Owings Mills, MD. On August 16, 2006, a construction employee descended into an underground vault to retrieve a tool, lost consciousness, and fell to the bottom of the 24-foot vault. Gouker immediately dialed 911 and then attempted to rescue his co-worker. Gouker succumbed to the oxygen-deficient atmosphere, lost consciousness, and fell. Emergency personnel were unable to resuscitate Gouker and his co-worker. (Boeckel, www.eveningsun.com, 7/5/08)

Last Friday, a Texas construction worker died after the 450-pound metal beam he'd been welding collapsed on him. The man was hit on the right side of his head and shoulder. The paramedics were called but the worker was pronounced dead on the scene. (Quinn & Woods, www.wacotrib.com, 7/12/08)

As seen above, a construction accident can have fatal consequences. But not all construction accidents result in death. Permanent disability is very common when working with heavy machinery, tools, and building materials. The most common accidents include: falls, scaffolding accidents, trip and fall, falling objects, collapsing structures, explosions, cave-ins, faulty roof, and electrical wiring accidents. Construction accidents may be categorized as negligence and/or premises liability. Liability may fall onto the owners, contractors, and equipment manufacturers. For more information please review our Premises Liability Page  and contact one of our attorneys.