On Thursday, March 15, 2018, a pedestrian bridge which was under construction collapsed onto the traffic below. The pedestrian bridge was a collaborative project between Florida International University (FIU), MCM Construction, and FIGG Bridge Design. The bridge had been installed on Saturday, March 10, at the Southwest 109th Avenue crossing with Southwest 8th Street after a 175-foot section of the pedestrian bridge was constructed on the side of the road. The pedestrian bridge was designed to provide pedestrians—especially students of FIU—with a safe crossing. According to reports, tests had shown that the bridge’s suspension had loosened; however, the cables were being tightened moments before the collapse.
As on Friday morning, there have been at least six confirmed deaths and ten injuries. Rescue and recovery efforts continue in an attempt to find more victims under the approximately 950-ton wreckage. All parties involved in the construction of the bridge have expressed their willingness to cooperate with all investigations looking into the cause of the collapse.
What are the rights of the victims and surviving family members? Although there is no clear cause of the bridge’s collapse as of late, something must have gone wrong—bridges do not normally collapse when they are designed and built correctly. Did the bridge collapse due to negligence? If the pedestrian bridge collapsed because of a fault in the design or construction company, injured victims and surviving family members of deceased victims could have grounds to file a lawsuit and recover compensation.
In the following sections, you will learn more about how Normandie Law Firm could help you if you were affected by the bridge’s collapse. Normandie Law Firm is an experienced firm dedicated to representing the victims of personal injuries. Our attorneys will never hesitate to file a claim against any party. If you would like our expert attorneys to evaluate your current legal situation, you must contact our firm as soon as possible.
Establishing Liability
As mentioned above, both MCM Construction and FIGG Bridge Design made statements in regards to their willingness to cooperate with all investigations. All parties involved have expressed their condolences; however, no parties have commented on the cause of the collision or accepted liability. According to reports, both MCM Construction and FIGG Bridge Design have a history of fines and lawsuits for safety violations. Before establishing liability for the collision, there might be an extensive investigation.
Let us consider the unfortunate event that took the lives of at least six people and left many injured. MCM Construction and FIGG Bridge Design should have both exercise reasonable skill and care to ensure that the structure is fit for its purpose. These parties owe a duty of care to exercise reasonable levels of care to avoid personal injuries. In construction, construction companies have a duty to warn if they believe that the design elements are flawed or can pose a hazard. If the design was flawed, FIGG Bridge Design could be held liable. However, if MCM Construction proceeded to construct the bridge without warning of the possible dangers due to the design flaw, they could also be held liable. If the design of the bridge was flawless, but the construction company compromised the soundness of the design during construction, the construction company could be liable.
As discussed, both parties had a duty of care. If they breached their duty of care, they could have caused the bridge to collapse—which could have resulted in injuries. If the deaths and injuries of the FIU pedestrian bridge were caused by a breach of duty, either FIGG Bridge Design or MCM Construction—or both—could be found negligent and, subsequently, liable for the deaths and injuries attributed to the collapse.
For more information about establishing negligence and liability, you must contact Normandie Law Firm as soon as possible. Our experienced attorneys will evaluate your claim and help you sue the party liable for your injuries.
Injuries Sustained
Many of the deceased victims were crushed to death by the 950-ton structure. Survivors suffered some of the following injuries: scrapes, bruises, broken bones, head injuries, chest injuries, foot injuries, and brain injuries. These are some of the few injuries that have been disclosed as of the latest updates. Rescue and recovery teams expect to find many more victims under the collapsed wreck.
Compensation Available
If you were injured in the collapse of a pedestrian bridge, you might be eligible to receive compensation after a successful claim. Likewise, surviving family members might be eligible to recover compensation if their loved one died as a result of the collision. But what categories of compensation are available for recovery? Injured victims and surviving family members might be eligible to recover the following types of compensation:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral and burial costs
For more information about the types of compensation you might be eligible to receive, you must contact our law firm. Our experienced attorneys will evaluate your claim and identify the value of your claim based on the details you provide. Our attorneys are committed to you and your claim—we know the value of your claim and will not rest until you recover the maximum amount of compensation available.
Statute of Limitations
If you were injured in the FIU bridge collapse or a similar incident, you must file your claim within the statute of limitations allowed. A statute of limitations is a timeline that establishes the amount of time which plaintiffs have to file their lawsuits. If plaintiffs do not file their lawsuits within the time allowed, they might lose their right to sue. What is the statute of limitations for your claim? To learn more about the statute of limitations that applies to your claim, you must speak a lawyer—as the statutes vary from state to state.
Normandie Law Firm
The excitement after a portion of the pedestrian bridge was successfully installed quickly disappeared when the bridge collapsed about five days later. Rescue and recovery efforts are still underway, and death and injury tolls are expected to rise. Were you or your loved one affected by this incident? Were you affected by a similar incident? Many people believe that structural collapses are simply unavoidable freak accidents; however, nearly all incidents can be traced to an early mistake. At our law firm, we believe that all victims should exercise their rights after suffering injuries or losing a loved one. Because of that belief, our law firm offers free consultations and free second opinions. During our free consultations and free second opinions, our attorneys will be available to answer all questions and all concerns. Our experienced attorneys will give you all the information you need to file a successful lawsuit against the parties responsible for your injuries or your loved one’s death. If you have already spoken with an attorney at another law firm, you might need clarification or additional information. Our experienced attorneys will clear all doubts and confusion left by any incompetent attorneys to which you might have spoken. Requesting an appointment to meet with our attorneys is simple—just contact our law firm, and a member of our legal staff will help you schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience.
Our free consultations and free second opinions are available through our Zero-Fee guarantee. What does our Zero-Fee guarantee mean? Our Zero-Fee guarantee ensures that our clients never have to worry about paying any upfront legal fees for any of our services. In fact, clients will not be required to pay until they win their claims due to our strict contingency status. If you do not win your lawsuit, you will not be required to make any payments. Contact us today to begin your legal process against the party responsible for your injuries.
