Case Spotlight: Holding Developers Accountable for Workplace Injuries and Fatalities
High-rise construction carries inherent risks, but those risks are neither unpredictable nor unavoidable. In this wrongful death case arising from a Northern Virginia development project, the focus was not on a freak accident, but on the absence of basic, well-established safety measures designed to protect workers on the ground. Through careful investigation and expert analysis, the legal team demonstrated that this tragedy was preventable — and that accountability was warranted. The matter ultimately resolved with a $7 million settlement for the family of a husband and father whose loss left an irreplaceable void.
What made this case especially significant?
This should never have happened. A man went to work and never came home, leaving behind his wife and seven children, because basic safety steps weren’t in place. And he was the rock—the glue that held his family together. His death left his family devastated. That’s what made this case so hard—and so important.
Why are falling-object cases so dangerous in high-rise construction?
Once you start building vertically, the risks change. Something as simple as a hand tool can turn deadly when it falls from that height. Developers and construction companies should know that basic rule, which is why projects should have one layer, if not multiple layers of protection for people working below.
How did you respond to the claim that no one knows how the crowbar fell?
That’s exactly the point. Safety measures are critical because we cannot predict how every accident will take place. When construction companies and developers employ effective protective measures the precise mechanism through which a tool, rock or other object falls doesn’t matter. Those measures exist to protect workers and prevent injuries. Period.
What role did experts play in the case?
They helped tell the full story. Our psychological expert explained the devastating emotional trauma the family suffered, a vocational expert determined what this loss meant financially for the family, and others focused on the worksite itself, e.g. how it was set up, what protections were missing, and how easily this could have been prevented.
Why does this case matter for employers and contractors?
Because safety decisions have real consequences. This isn’t about paperwork or compliance for its own sake. When protections are skipped, workers pay the price. Following established safety guidelines is one of the most important ways companies can make sure people go home to their families safely at the end of the day.
What should developers and contractors take away from this case?
There’s no such thing as a minor safety shortcut on a high-rise job. Falling-object protection isn’t optional, and overlooking it can cost lives. The responsibility to plan ahead and protect workers rests with the companies running the project.
Find out more about this case.