[09-28-2023] San Francisco County, CA – Collapsed Trench Killed Utility Worker in NoPa

A utility worker was killed after a trench collapsed in NoPa, San Francisco, on Tuesday morning, September 28, 2023.

According to the San Francisco Fire Department, the fatal incident happened around 10:30 a.m. on the 1100 block of Divisidero Street.

An employee of D’Arcy & Harty Construction Inc. was reportedly buried under eight feet of dirt while working on a city sewer upgrade project.

The rescue and recovery operation took more than two hours before the victim’s body was removed from the trench.

Cal/OSHA and the police are currently conducting parallel investigations to determine the cause of the fatal incident.

Relentless Workers’ Compensation Lawyers in San Francisco

An employee killed in a work-related accident in California is eligible for compensation under the state’s workers’ compensation law, regardless of who is responsible. The victim can receive compensation if the accident occurred during employment and was not caused by negligence or horseplay.

Seek the advice of our relentless San Francisco workers’ compensation lawyers at Arash Law, under the direction of Arash Khorsandi, Esq., who will not stop at anything to protect your rights and represent your claim. Our firm has recovered more than $500 Million for California clients.

If you want to speak with one of our lawyers, please call (888) 488-1391 or fill out the “Do I Have a Case?” form.

What To Do After Workplace Accident

If a loved one is killed after suffering from work-related injuries, it can be very upsetting and disorienting. You can get through this difficult time and protect their rights for proper compensation by doing the following:

• Please report the accident to their supervisor or employer as soon as possible. They will create an official record which would be a vital piece of evidence.
• File a workers’ compensation claim. You should contact the employer’s human resources department or the state’s workers’ compensation board so they can guide you through the process.
• Hire a legal assistant.  If you feel that the employer was negligent in preventing the accident or failed to give the appropriate compensation or support, consider seeking help from a qualified lawyer specializing in workplace accidents.

I HAD AN ACCIDENT

Fatal Workplace Accident Statistics

OSHA stated that workplace fatalities and injuries are a significant concern in the United States, with over 4,500 incidents reported annually. In 2020, 66.7% of American workers experienced work-related injuries, which remained unchanged from the previous year.

Despite a decline in the total number of claims filed for workers’ compensation, the number of workers killed due to workplace accidents remained steady and increased by 2% or 5,333 in 2018. Trips, slips, and falls were the cause of 16% of all accidental deaths in 2015, accounting for approximately 40.2% of all fatalities.

The major causes of work-related fatalities are automotive accidents, falls, and violence, whereas the leading causes of nonfatal workplace injuries are strains from lifting and falls.