GLP Attorneys proudly pursues justice for those injured in the workplace. We are pleased to share the success story of the case of Antonio Da Rocha, where we helped our client reach a large settlement after a construction accident that left him with life-altering injuries.
Construction Workplace Injury
Antonio Da Rocha was visiting his daughter in Washington from Brazil with his wife and younger daughter and wanted to find temporary work. Connecting with Casa Latina—a non-profit temporary labor agency that helps Latino immigrants get jobs in the Greater Seattle area—to find employment, he was able to receive a Casa Latina “Worker” identification card. Casa Latina provided him with basic training, including how to garden, lift properly, use a ladder, use a wheelbarrow, and an overview of construction rules.
On January 7, 2020, Antonio headed to his first day of work at a townhouse construction site in Seattle to be a general laborer. He was tasked with moving materials, like pieces of wood, from one section of the worksite to the other. Antonio received no training when he was on the worksite, safety or otherwise.
Later that day, Antonio was asked to help other workers lift and put up a large wood-framed wall. The workers began to lift the incredibly heavy wall. As they lifted the wall above their chests, the workers quickly noticed that the wall could not be lifted further because it was either too heavy or there was an obstruction preventing the wall from going up any further. Without knowing what to do in the event the lift could not be completed, the workers lifting the wall all let go, and the wall fell on Antonio, crushing his legs and breaking multiple bones.
When he was taken to the hospital, it was assessed that his injuries were so severe that he would not be able to walk for six months as he recovered. He had to undergo major surgeries and physical therapy, resulting in extensive medical bills.
The injuries that Antonio sustained from the accident were preventable and caused by workplace negligence.
The Case Against the Construction Companies
Shareholder Cydney Campbell Webster had a lot of investigating to do in order to prove that the construction companies were negligent. She found that the three construction companies involved in the build failed to provide Antonio with a safe workplace, failed to hold a pre-lift safety meeting before asking their workers to lift the wall, failed to use pump jacks to make sure the wall was lifted safely, and didn’t conduct a pre-lift inspection of the wall to ensure that it could be safely lifted in the first place.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States has safety standards in place that were neglected during the accident, including a requirement to use machinery to assist with lifting framing walls. The construction companies did not follow any of the safety standards OSHA put out.
Since the construction companies failed to provide Antonio and other workers on site with a safe work environment, they were found liable for his injuries. Their negligence in providing little instruction and not following safety procedures left Antonio with life-altering injuries that could have been prevented.
What Was the Recovery?
GLP Attorneys fought hard for Antonio. Antonio did not just have injuries he had to recover from, but due to their severity, he was not able to go back to Brazil for more than half a year. This added on the extra stress of dealing with the United States immigration system and paying immigration fees he would not otherwise have to pay.
GLP Attorneys was able to win Antonio a large settlement which meant a lot to him and his family. He was out of work for six months due to his injuries, and this allowed him to pay off his medical bills and help his family restart their lives after the tumultuous event.
The recovery amount also allowed him to take time to heal without worrying about providing for his family.
GLP Attorneys is Proud of Our Success
GLP Attorneys works hard to provide clients like Antonio with the best possible outcomes for their personal injury cases.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction accident, please call 206.752.4866, or email our attorneys at attorneys@glpattorneys.com for a free consultation.