According to a report posted on Ridgewood-GlenRockPatch.com, a 71-year-old construction worker died after succumbing to head injuries he suffered after a wood plank fell and struck him directly on the head at a construction site on Sunset Avenue in Ridgewood, New Jersey.
The construction worker was a self-employed contractor from Sussex who was working on washing away debris from a residential demolition when a wood plank fell from the second floor of the house and hit him on the head. He was not wearing a hard hat. The victim was taken to Valley Hospital where he died from his injuries.
At the time of the construction accident, two other men, were operating excavators and continuing the demolition process when they noticed the plank fall. They then saw the victim on the floor after sustaining head trauma. Although the two men gave police verbal statements at the scene, they would not provide written statements. The two men had been using the excavators to knock down pieces of the house at the time of the incident, which could have caused the wood plank to fall.
An investigation is still ongoing and no charges have been filed as of yet. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been notified of the fatal construction accident.
If you have lost a loved one in a New Jersey workplace accident caused by the negligence of a contractor or other third party, the knowledgeable NJ construction accident lawyers at Blume Forte can help you determine whether you may have a valid claim. Call 973-845-4421 for a no-cost consultation of your legal rights and potential options.