Boston Structural Collapse Lawyers
Holding builders, architects, engineers, and others accountable for injuries and deaths due to structural collapses
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The roofs, balconies, or entire structures of buildings can collapse—often with no or very little warning. Most structural collapses are preventable. At Santoro & Gray, we understand what laws, regulations, and safety standards govern the construction of residences, commercial buildings, and other types of buildings. Often, structural collapse cases involve multiple victims and multiple defendants. The victims may include the occupants, visitors, and pedestrians. Structural collapse may be due to negligence or product defects.
When buildings collapse, victims are likely to suffer catastrophic, permanent, or chronic injuries. Structural collapses can be fatal. There’s often extensive property damage. We hold those responsible for structural collapses accountable for your economic and non-economic damages. Call us now to discuss your rights and options for seeking compensation.
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How Santoro & Gray can help you
- What is a structural collapse?
- What are the causes of structural collapses in Boston?
- What types of structural collapses do you handle?
- What types of injuries do structural collapses in Boston cause?
- How do you fight for the victims of structural collapses?
- Do you have a Boston structural collapse lawyer near me?
Structural collapses involve buildings, balconies, bridges, walls, scaffolds, and trenches. They occur when the structure can no longer support the various forces and stresses within and outside of the structure.
Some of the factors that affect the integrity of a structure include:
- The strength to support various loads during normal use, including rain and snow
- The ability of the structure to keep its shape, even when there are heavy winds, construction loads, equipment, and traffic
- The materials should be able to withstand various environmental and work factors
- The structure should comply with local building codes
- The structure should be easily accessible
At Santoro & Gray, we work with many different professionals to determine why structures collapse and why the collapse was preventable. These professionals include architects, engineers, builders, contractors for each type of structure, and other professionals.
Some of the reasons that structures collapse include the following:
- Negligence in the design of the structure
- The use of substandard materials or materials that aren’t appropriate for the type of structure being built
- Improper supervision of the construction work
- The failure to follow local building codes
- Improper coordination of the framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and other parts of the structure
- The failure to inspect and test (such as conducting a load test) the structural integrity of the structure
- Ignoring various warning signs, such as foundations that aren’t even, cracks, and other visible signs of the lack of structural integrity
- Poor communication between the architects, general contractors, subcontractors, and other members of the construction team can cause misunderstandings, improper coordination of the various structural features, and other dangers
- The use of defective materials, equipment, machinery, tools, and safety devices
Time pressures and budgetary constraints can also lead to structural collapses.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) sets workplace safety standards for construction. For example, OSHA regulates concrete and masonry construction.
OSHA has additional regulations for structural stability, worker safety, and the erection, construction, and modification of structures. These regulations address such issues as reinforcement, supports to prevent soil movement, roofing, the stability of equipment and materials during construction, and the use of steel in construction.
At Santoro & Gray, we handle all types of structural collapses, including:
- An entire collapse of the structure
- A partial collapse of the structure
- The collapse of a floor (such as in apartment complexes)
- The collapse of a roof
- The collapse of a wall
- A foundational collapse
- The collapse of a balcony or an elevated walkway
- A trench collapse
- A bridge collapse
- The collapse of scaffolding
- Underground structural collapses
Our Boston personal injury lawyers understand how devastating structural collapse injuries can be. Falling walls, debris, or equipment can be fatal. Victims may suffer secondary harm if electrical systems or gas lines fail. In some cases, victims could be trapped for hours or days, causing respiratory disorders and exposure to dangerous toxins.
The injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and other types of head trauma
- Paralysis and other types of spinal cord damage
- Traumatic amputation/loss of limb
- Broken bones/fractures
- Organ damage
- Crush injuries
- Nerve, tissue, and muscle damage
- Hearing or vision loss
- Respiratory disorders
- Heart disorders
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Death
At Santoro & Gray, we work with numerous liability and medical professionals to hold those responsible for your injuries or the death of a loved one accountable. We can formally question everyone involved in the building and maintenance of the structure. Our lawyers can review all relevant documents, including the design plans, test results, maintenance records, insurance policies, records of complaints, a list of materials used, and many other relevant documents.
Our team will listen to you to understand, so we can answer your questions, address your concerns, and get to know all the ways your injuries have changed your life.
Who is liable?
We file personal injury, product liability, and wrongful death claims against everyone responsible for a structural collapse. The defendants may include:
- Architects
- Developers
- Engineers
- General contractors
- Subcontractors
- Manufacturers of defective materials and equipment
- Property owners
- Inspection companies
- Repair companies
What is the value of a structural collapse injury/death claim?
Our Boston personal injury lawyers work with your doctors (and our network of doctors if necessary), your employers, financial professionals, and others to determine all the ways your injuries are affecting you financially and personally. We demand compensation for all your damages so far and all your future damages, including:
- All your medical bills of every type by every healthcare provider
- Your physical pain and emotional suffering
- Your income losses, including permanent disability income losses
- Any property damage, including the cost to repair or replace your damaged property
- Any scarring or disfigurement
- The loss of bodily function
- The inability to enjoy life’s pleasures
- The loss of consortium (marital comfort and enjoyment)
If a structural collapse is fatal, we pursue a wrongful death claim through the estate’s executor or administrator. Wrongful death damages for eligible statutory beneficiaries include:
- The funeral and burial expenses
- The loss of financial support, including the reasonably expected income your loved one would have earned, and any inheritance
- The loss of decedent’s protection, care, assistance, society, companionship, comfort, guidance, counsel, and advice
In rare cases, Massachusetts allows punitive damages in wrongful death claims if the defendant’s conduct was malicious, willful, wanton, reckless, or grossly negligent.
Yes. Our attorneys speak with clients at our Boston Office located at 131 Dartmouth Street, 3rd Floor. If your health prevents you from traveling, we can make arrangements to see you at your home or another convenient location. We conduct phone and online video consultations, too.
Our lawyers can guide you step-by-step through the claims process. We’ve helped many accident victims like you obtain strong recoveries.
Contact Santoro & Gray today if a structural collapse injured you or took the life of a loved one
We understand how anxious and upset you are. Structural collapses often cause injuries that permanently change lives. They cause constant physical pain and mental anguish. We have the experience, working relationships, and resources to help you obtain justice. Please phone us or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation. Our Boston trial lawyers handle structural collapse cases on a contingency fee basis.