Structural collapse can be one of the most dangerous incidents that face property owners, workplace employees and even unfortunate passers-by, with some building collapses leading to serious injury and death. From poor architectural design to simple issues with maintenance and inspection, there are a number of reasons why a building might collapse, but in this article, we’ll be discussing the most common – and what happens when people are injured as a consequence. Read on to find out more.
- Poor Architectural Design
One of the most common causes of structural collapse is the poor architectural design of many modern buildings. While accidents can happen in any industry, collapses due to poor design often leave people with catastrophic injuries, and this was particularly the case in the Sampoong Department store collapse of 1995. The store, built in Seoul, South Korea, had been criticized for its location on a rubbish dump, and the lead architect had even been warned against adding a proposed fifth floor for fears that this would lead to issues later down the line. However, the construction went ahead, and when the heavy fifth floor air vents caused the building to collapse, 502 people sadly lost their lives.
- Fire Damage
Despite not always being caused by human error or negligence, fire damage is one of the biggest contributors to building collapses worldwide, with some of the most well-known cases of collapse caused by fire making international headlines. Even in buildings crafted with steel support beams, the surrounding materials that are used to hold the general structure are not always sufficient at withstanding fire damage. Engineers and technicians from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, have recreated similar building types to test under fire, and found that often these structures collapse even with low levels of fire damage.
- Improper Maintenance
Although fire and water damage to buildings that causes structural collapse is often accidental, improper maintenance is another factor that can cause buildings to fall. However, improper maintenance or a lack of regular inspection is entirely preventable, so in cases of buildings collapsing due to this, it’s important for anybody injured or affected to hold the responsible parties to account. This might be done through the courts, but compensation is often paid as a result of mediation which takes place before a trial.
Under certain laws, particularly those pertaining to premises liability, the victims of a structural collapse are often entitled to monetary compensation that covers the cost of any physical or emotional damage. For employees who’ve been injured at work, this is even more significant – professional structural collapse lawyers like Romanucci & Blandin work with individuals to get the compensation they deserve, and are a great example of why you should find a firm experienced with high profile and complex cases.
Structural collapse often directly causes or contributes towards serious injury and death, so it’s vital that building owners take responsibility for their properties and carry out the correct inspections on a regular basis. For those who’ve fallen victim to a building collapse, compensation is available that can help them to rebuild their lives, so it’s important that legal action is pursued correctly. From poor design to improper maintenance, no matter the cause of a building collapse, there is help available to those who need it.
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