Wander Santo Florham Park: Wander Santos of Newark Killed In Florham Park Construction Accident After Fall At Housing Site
FLORHAM PARK, NEW JERSEY (March 19, 2020) – A construction worker identified as Wander Santos has tragically died after falling at a housing site.
New Jersey police officials are saying that the collision occurred around 5:20 p.m. For reasons that remain under investigation Wander Santos fell around 30 to 35 feet at the housing site.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help Wander Santos. Despite life-saving measures Wander Santos died due to his injuries.
Workers at the building were creating condominiums, single family homes and townhouses. OSHA is investigating the cause of the accident at this time.
Liability In Florham Park Construction Accidents
Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and death in the construction industry. According to the Centers For Disease Control, “Falls remain the leading cause of work-related deaths in construction, accounting for about one-third of the total number of fatalities in this industry (370 of the 991 construction fatalities recorded in 2016).1 Although fatal falls followed the overall injury trends, fall deaths rose faster than overall deaths in construction during the economic recovery that started in 2013.” There are a number of measures that companies can take in order to prevent falls:
- Companies should provide construction workers with personal fall arrest systems.
- Companies should properly train workers on best practices when working on elevated platforms.
- Companies should enforce safety regulations in order to prevent falls.
Workers that are injured in New Jersey are protected by a number of laws. If a worker is killed their family may be able to seek aid through the workers compensation system. According to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, “Workers’ compensation is a “no fault” insurance program that provides the following benefits to employees who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses. An injured employee will receive benefits regardless of who was at fault. In exchange for these benefits, the worker cannot bring a civil action against the employer for pain and suffering or other damages, except in cases of intentional acts.” Benefits can help cover:
- Lost wages
- Disability benefits
- Permanent disability benefits
- Death benefits
What many workers and their families may not realize is that the workers compensation may not be their only resource. The family of any construction worker that died in an accident may be able to seek justice through a third party liability claim. A third party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer was responsible for the accident. For example, a general contractor or building owner could be liable for an accident if it was caused by a dangerous condition. A construction accident attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal rights are.
Investigating A Florham Park Construction Accident
We at Pulvers, Pulvers & Thompson extend our deepest condolences to the family of Wander Santos. Any person that may have seen what happened should reach out to OSHA as they continue their investigation. Most fall accidents can be prevented when workers are given fall protection. It is our sincere hope that measures will be put in place to prevent similar accidents. No family should ever have to suffer through something like this.
