Galfand Berger Extends their Thoughts and Prayers to the Victims of the Building Collapse Tragedy in Philadelphia

Galfand Berger sends our thoughts and prayers to the victims and families of the tragic building collapse that occurred in Center City Philadelphia just a few blocks from our main office on June 5, 2013.

Tragic events like the Philadelphia building collapse bring to mind the importance of following safety principals and procedures during both construction and demolition projects.  Although sometimes a building collapse cannot be predicted or avoided, there are many steps that demolition contractors can take to ensure the safety of the workers and people in the surrounding areas and buildings.

Everyone knows that when you build a building, you need to have blueprints, a construction plan and that there is a precise sequence of steps that must be followed to make sure the finished building is safely constructed.  What some people may not recognize is that taking a building down is not as simple as hitting it with a wrecking ball or a bulldozer.  Before a building is demolished, particularly one that is adjacent or attached to other buildings, a demolition plan should be instituted that will insure the safety of not only the workers conducting the demolition but the people working or occupying the surrounding buildings.  This plan should include an engineering survey that will instruct the demolition contractors to understand the structural integrity of the building that is being dismantled, and prevent a sudden structural collapse that can then extend to nearby structures.  In certain cases, the foundations of neighboring buildings may need to be strengthened before the attached building can be safely removed, as the removed building may have been providing support that is no longer available after it is removed.

Although the exact cause of the Philadelphia building collapse has yet to be determined, the one thing that this tragic event makes abundantly clear is the dangers associated with demolition projects.  At Galfand Berger, we have represented victims of demolition and construction accidents for over 65 years, and have helped them obtain compensation from the parties or insurance companies responsible to pay for their injuries and damages.

If you have any questions related to any legal issues that may have arisen from this tragic accident, please do not hesitate to call us toll free at 800-222-8792 or contact us online and our Philadelphia personal injury lawyers will be glad to discuss these matters with you.