Last October, a parking structure collapsed on the Miami Dade College’s Doral campus, killing four workers. One worker, Samuel Perez, was trapped underneath the rubble in the garage for almost seventeen hours before rescuers were able to get to him. A rescue team was forced to amputate his leg in order to get him out of the rubble. Perez died three hours later at a Miami hospital.
His widow, Migdalia Lopez, filed a wrongful death suit against five major construction companies in charge of the project. The suit alleges that the companies’ negligence led to Perez’s death, accuses the companies of rushing the project and asserts that the contractors did not comply with minimum safety requirements. The companies in the suit include general contractor Ajax Building Corporation, Inc., management company M.A.R. Contracting, Inc., engineering and inspection company MEP Structural Engineering and Inspections, engineering company Bliss & Nyitray, Inc. and architecture firm Haryard Jolly, Inc. The United States Occupations Safety and Health Administration is currently investigating the cause of the collapse.
The collapse also killed Carlos Hurtado de Mendoza, Jose Calderon, and Robert Budhoo, whose family has also filed suit. Two days prior to the crash, a crane had crashed against one of the columns of the structure; after an investigation, construction work commenced. According to Lopez’s lawsuit, the work should not have continued. Her attorney states, “When we are talking about this type of tonnage and this type of error, which was reckless, there is going to be a loss of lives and serious injuries.” Perez was located inside a cement truck when the crash occurred. Prior to his death, Perez worked in construction for twenty years and was the family’s primary breadwinner.
Family of worker killed in MDC garage collapse has filed suit against contractors, www.miamiherald.com December 03, 2012.
Collapsed roofs and other building design defects are a common occurrence and lead to serious injuries and wrongful death. Four families lost their loved ones due to the negligence of five major companies. If you have been injured or lost a loved one as a result of a building collapse, call the wrongful death attorneys at the Friedland | Carmona today. Also expierenced premises liability lawyers, the Miami personal injury lawyers can help you recover compensation for your injuries or loss; the wrongful death lawyers will fight with the insurance companies to ensure that your expenses are covered. Don’t hesitate! Call the Broward litigation lawyers at the Friedland | Carmona today! Call (305) 661-2008 today for you free consultation!
The Miami personal injury lawyers at the Friedland | Carmona handle all personal injury incidents throughout the state of Florida, including Boca Raton, Homestead, North Miami, South Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Pembroke Pines, Hialeah, Kendall, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach. The Friedland | Carmona handles all types of personal injury cases, including wrongful death, defective products, medical malpractice, slip and falls and construction site injuries. Call the Miami personal injury attorneys at (305) 661-2008 for your free consultation. Call today and let our family take care of your family!