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When a Trench Collapse in Iowa Causes Severe Injuries (Part A)

Just as with many aspects of construction work, the need to excavate or dig trenches can present a variety of risks. While trenches are a necessary component of any construction project, when proper precautions are not observed, a trench collapse in Iowa can result, and with it serious construction injury.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 271 cases of fatal construction injury occurred from 2000 to 2006 as a result of trench collapse accidents.

Dangers of a Trench Collapse in Iowa

Some of the inherent dangers of a trench collapse in Iowa include:

• inhalation of toxic fumes and gases;
• suffocation;
• drowning;
• asphyxiation;
• electrocution; and
• explosions.

Causes of a Trench Collapse In Iowa

A number of factors can lead to construction injury from a trench collapse in Iowa. When soil on the outside of the trench is not properly secured, the vibrations from backhoes and other equipment can cause the walls of the trench to cave in, which can lead to suffocation from the sheer weight of the soil.

A trench collapse in Iowa can also result when workers accidentally strike utility lines, which can also lead to explosions or electrocution. In circumstances in which human error is not to blame, natural disasters like flash floods, storms or mudslides can lead to potentially life-threatening situations.

Injuries from a Trench Collapse in Iowa

In addition to some of the obvious risks for suffocation or even drowning when water lines are struck, a trench collapse in Iowa can lead to a host of other serious construction injuries, including:

• broken bones;
• traumatic brain injury; and
• spinal cord injury.

The days and weeks following a trench collapse in Iowa can be difficult, and depending on the severity of your construction injury, may be filled with hospital stays and rehabilitation efforts. To find out how you should best approach filing an Iowa Workers' Compensation claim to account for your losses, a Des Moines Workers' Compensation attorney can help you with the details.

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