The Port Aransa Fire and Police emergency units responded to a call on Thursday, September 26th just pas 4PM regarding a man who had fallen from the roof of the Casa Condominiums located at 4903 TX-361.
Officials were still gathering evidence and testimony from witnesses who claimed the man stepped on a segment of the roof which was not structurally sound. The exact sequence of events is not clear, but this led to Bull plunging five stories to his death. Foul play is not suspected, and the leading theory is that this was an unfortunate accident.
The Port Aransas Condominiums had been under repair as of late, so the victim's presence on the roof is not unusual. A supervisor of the project, Bull is believed to have been inspecting recently-completed work on the roof of the Condo building when a segment of it gave way. Other workers were also reported to have been on the roof at the same time, though no other injuries were reported.
The specific circumstances of this tragic death are still under investigation.
In researching the facts of this incident, I was able to gather some valuable insight for victims of construction accidents and their families. Here is what experienced personal injury lawyer Anjali Nigam had to offer those who may find themselves in a similar situation.
PA: Why are accidents on construction sites so deadly?
AN: The construction industry is an inherently high-risk career, no matter the situation. This is due to all of the equipment and tools encountered on sites which, although they are incredibly effective and helpful, can also turn deadly very quickly.
Moreover, construction sites are often populated with employees of different contracting companies, which can often result in miscommunications and improper procedure. Whereas these issues could be benign in an office work space, they can result in the deaths of workers on a construction site.
PA: What options exist for construction employees injured while on-the-job?
AN: Every worker in the United States is entitled to compensation via the worker's comp system whenever they suffer any kind of injury in the work place. Of course, this extends to construction workers as well.
A worker's compensation claim, if successful, can help pay for medical expenses that resulted from the workplace injury. In some cases, it can also cover a portion of lost wages if an employee cannot work due to the injury.
PA: Can employees sue their employer after a workplace injury?
AN: It is only in very specific circumstances where an employee can sue their employer after an injury. This is due to the fact that employeers must pay for worker's compensation insurance plans which cover injured workers while removing the possibility of a lawsuit.
Yet, on construction sites, if an accident is caused by a negligent third party such as an employee of another contractor or company, then a lawsuit could potentially be filed to help recover damages on a subsequent injury.