Truck Driver Identified As Robert Sierra Jr Killed In Victorville Construction Site Accident With Excavator On Green Tree Bridge Near Ridgecrest Road
VICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA (June 24, 2022) – A truck driver identified as Robert Sierra Jr has died in a Victorville construction accident after an excavator fell onto his truck on Green Tree bridge.
San Bernardino County police officials are saying that the accident took place at 11:39 a.m. on June 22. Robert Sierra Jr was in a truck when a large excavator tipped over to the right and crushed the front portion of the cab.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the accident in order to help the victim. The truck driver was extricated from the front portion of the cab with the jaws of life.
Sadly, Robert Sierra Jr was beyond medical aid and pronounced dead at the scene. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
The construction site is currently being used to create the Green Tree bridge. This will eventually connect the city of Victorville to Apple Valley.
Liability In Victorville Excavator Accidents
Heavy equipment including excavators are essential for construction projects all over the world. But they are also involved in a large number of accidents. According to one study in Science Direct, “Heavy equipment operators and construction laborers made up 63% of the heavy equipment- and truck-related deaths. Backhoes and trucks were involved in half the deaths. Rollovers were the main cause of death of heavy equipment operators.” For workers on foot at construction sites, being struck by heavy equipment was a major cause of death. This is especially true when heavy equipment is backing up. There are a number of steps that should be taken to prevent heavy equipment accidents.
- Construction companies should have an incident management plan. Part of the plan must be to identify, analyze and correct hazards to prevent them from happening again.
- Any person operating heavy equipment must go through all relevant training. Operators should be able to identify anything that could be an issue mechanically with their machine.
- Heavy machine operators must remain vigilant at all times. This includes looking out for powerlines, pedestrians and vehicles that could become hazards.
- Workers should be instructed to always communicate with one another. A large number of accidents are due to poor communication on a construction site.
When a construction worker is injured or killed on the job, they or their family may be able to seek aid through the worker’s compensation system. Workers compensation in California is a no-fault system that allows an injured worker or their family to recover aid for accidents that occur on the job. There is no need to demonstrate negligence in a worker’s compensation claim. It is important that an injured worker let their doctor know as soon as possible about an accident they were involved in while at work. Depending on the facts of any case, an injured worker or their family may be able to seek aid through a third party liability claim.
A third party liability claim may be possible when an entity separate from a worker’s employer caused an accident. Construction sites, in particular, are typically made up of a blend of different companies that must all work together to achieve some goal. If a truck driver from one company is injured due to the negligence of an excavator operator from a separate company, this could form the basis of a legal claim. However, the injured party will need to demonstrate negligence.
Construction companies have an obligation to properly train heavy equipment operators and must make sure that they have a commercial driver’s license. The vast majority of heavy equipment accidents involve some amount of operator error. Excavators and other heavy equipment are top heavy by their very nature. They are not designed to be driven over very steep, slanted or sloped surfaces. This could very well cause the equipment to rollover and seriously injure or kill someone. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any construction accident involving heavy equipment.
- It should be determined if the operator of the heavy equipment was properly licensed and certified.
- Photos of the accident site should be taken.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Safety protocols at the construction site should be examined.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.
The family of any worker killed in a construction accident may have legal recourse through California Code of Civil Procedure 377.60. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, though, construction companies will often fight hard to deny liability for any accident. A construction accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Victorville Construction Accident
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Robert Sierra Jr who was killed in this Victorville excavator accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. Safety should always be the number one priority for any construction company. But far too often expediency and cost cutting measures put workers safety needlessly at risk. This needs to change.
Do you need more information about a Victorville construction accident? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of construction safety experts are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that construction companies are doing everything in their power to keep worker’s safe. Whether you just have legal questions or need more information about an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
