Worker Killed In Waterloo Barn Collapse Accident

Wrongful Death - March 25, 2024

One Killed, Another Injured In Monroe County Barn Collapse Accident At Property on Country Club Lane

Worker Killed In Waterloo Barn Collapse Accident

WATERLOO, ILLINOIS (March 24, 2024) – One person has tragically died and another was injured in a Monroe County barn collapse accident near Waterloo.

Monroe County officials are saying that the accident took place around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. A company from Missouri was hired to take down the barn structure.

At some point during the day, the barn collapsed into a nearby burn pit and caught fire. At least two workers were hit by the collapsing barn.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the workers. Despite life-saving measures, one worker died due to the severity of their injuries.

A second worker was injured in the accident. An investigation into the barn collapse remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Monroe County Barn Collapse Accidents

Structure collapses may seem like freak occurrences, but they are actually quite common. According to one study in the Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, “A total of 225 building failures in the United States from 1989 to 2000 were recorded in this study. The result shows that failures of low-rise buildings constitute about 63% of all cases, followed by multistory buildings as a distant second. In terms of their functions, apartments are the most frequent to fail. External events and construction and maintenance deficiencies have been identified as the most frequent principal causes.” There are a number of steps that construction companies should take to prevent workers from being injured during a demolition project.

  • Training: All workers should be trained in demolition safety procedures.
  • Safety Equipment: Workers should be provided with protective equipment (PPE), such as hard hats and safety goggles.
  • Communication: Construction companies should establish clear communication channels between workers.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Construction companies should ensure that they are compliant with all relevant OSHA regulations for demolition projects.

When a worker is injured or killed on the job, they or their family will typically have recourse through the worker’s compensation system. Worker’s compensation in Illinois is not based on fault or negligence. In other words, an injured worker or their family will not have to demonstrate anyone acted improperly in order to be taken care of through worker’s compensation. The family of a deceased worker may also have recourse through a third-party liability claim.

Construction projects are typically made up of a variety of different companies that have to work together. If a company separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident, this could form the basis of a third-party liability claim. This may involve a general contractor who failed to ensure a work site was in a reasonably safe condition. It is important that certain steps are taken after any demolition accident.

  • Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
  • Medical records should be preserved.
  • Surveillance footage should be sought.
  • The police report for the accident should be reviewed.

Construction accidents are often highly preventable. They tend to involve safety lapses. This could include failing to follow OSHA regulations. Sadly, though, property owners and contractors will often do everything that they can to deny liability after any accident. It is important that accident victims understand that they do have rights. The family of any person who died in a construction project may have legal recourse through a civil claim.

Investigating Waterloo Barn Collapse Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of the worker who died in this Waterloo barn collapse accident. It is our hope that the other victim will be able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.

Do you need more information about a Waterloo barn collapse accident? Our team of worker’s rights advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.