Georgia construction sites are designed to hold a large amount of material. As work progresses, lumber, metal, roofing materials, tools, concrete fragments, temporary barriers, and discarded building components may all be present. Those materials should not endanger people outside the work zone.
When debris falls from an elevated site, blows into traffic, spills onto a sidewalk, or otherwise escapes the boundaries of a Georgia construction project, the resulting injuries can be severe. Determining responsibility may require identifying not only what escaped the site, but also which company was responsible for securing, storing, or removing it.
Construction Debris Can Travel Beyond the Work Zone
A person does not have to enter an active construction area to encounter a construction-related hazard. In Atlanta, projects frequently operate beside sidewalks, streets, businesses, apartment buildings, and other occupied properties.
Dangerous situations may arise when:
- Materials fall from scaffolding or elevated work areas.
- Loose debris is carried by wind beyond site barriers.
- Construction waste enters sidewalks or pedestrian areas.
- Materials fall from trucks entering or leaving the site.
- Equipment or supplies extend into areas open to the public.
- Debris enters a roadway and causes drivers or cyclists to take evasive action.
A falling object can directly strike someone below. In other circumstances, debris may create a secondary hazard, such as causing a driver to swerve or a pedestrian to fall.
Responsibility May Extend Beyond the Property Owner
Large construction projects can involve numerous businesses working at the same location. A developer or property owner may hire a general contractor, which then works with multiple subcontractors, material suppliers, hauling companies, and other vendors.
That structure can make responsibility difficult to determine after someone is seriously injured.
An investigation may examine who controlled the area where the debris originated, who was responsible for securing materials, and whether established safety procedures were followed. Contracts, work assignments, site logs, photographs, inspection records, and witness statements may help identify which party had responsibility for the hazardous condition.
In some circumstances, more than one company’s actions may have contributed to what happened.
Weather Does Not Necessarily Explain Away the Hazard
Construction materials exposed to wind or heavy rain can become unstable. But severe weather is not the only reason debris leaves a work site, and weather conditions do not necessarily resolve questions about responsibility.
Investigators may need to determine whether materials were stored or secured appropriately, given conditions that could reasonably have been anticipated. The timing of weather warnings, site preparations, and decisions made before work stopped may all become relevant.
Evidence at an Active Site Can Change Quickly
Construction environments rarely remain unchanged. Debris can be cleared, materials relocated, barriers repositioned, and work completed soon after an injury occurs. Identifying and preserving evidence early can therefore be particularly important.
At Ashby Thelen Lowry, our Atlanta personal injury attorneys investigate serious construction-site injuries to determine where the hazard originated, who controlled the relevant work, and whether reasonable precautions could have prevented the harm.
If you or someone you love suffered a serious injury because construction debris escaped a Georgia work site, call (404) 777-7771 or contact us online to discuss what happened and learn more about your legal options.