Harris Lowry Manton LLP Discusses Access Road Bridge Collapse

On October 19, 2021, demolition work on the Access Road bridge in Newton County led to tragedy as part of the bridge collapsed into the Yellow River. Three workers fell into the river; two workers were critically injured, and the third worker died. The bridge is labeled “structurally deficient,” and is being replaced with a new structure.

Harris Lowry Manton LLP is a premier litigation firm serving injured workers throughout Georgia. Over the past 15 years, we have secured more 8-figured verdicts on behalf of clients and families than any other Georgia firm in the same time period. We have represented employees and contractors who were critically injured, as well as families whose loved ones have died in the course of their job duties, obtaining millions of dollars on their behalf:

• $40 million for a Police Chief who is now confined to a wheelchair after being hit by a car while he was on duty.
• $11.2 million for the family of Sarah Elizabeth Jones, who was killed after being struck by a train while she was working on the set of Midnight Rider.
• $8.6 million for the family of John Bernecker, who was killed in a fall on-set while working on The Walking Dead.

Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Who is responsible for the collapse of the Access Road bridge?

According to The Covington News, the demolition work was being performed by B&D Concrete Cutting Inc., which sub-contracted for Georgia Bridge and Concrete, the company replacing the bridge. At this time, we do not know if the workers were employees for Georgia Bridge or B&D, nor what caused part of the bridge to collapse. There is an ongoing investigation about the cause of the collapse.

Who is liable for injuries sustained in the collapse of the Access Road bridge?

Liability will be determined by the cause of the collapse. If faulty equipment played a role, then the injured workers and surviving family members of the worker who died can make a claim against the manufacturer of that equipment. If the collapse was triggered by degrading materials, then the workers and families have options:

1. Employees can file a workers’ compensation claim, which will cover all medical expenses and lost wages. Workers’ compensation in Georgia also offers death benefits.
2. If the workers are not employees, they can file a personal injury lawsuit for damages related to their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
3. The family of the worker who died can file a wrongful death lawsuit, which will cover medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering of the family, and funeral and burial expenses.

How can Harris Lowry Manton LLP help after a worksite accident?

The Georgia injury attorneys of Harris Lowry Manton LLP represent victims and families in lawsuits against negligent companies, governments, individuals, and other entities. We investigate what happened to you or your loved one, carefully reviewing and documenting any evidence of wrongdoing. We determine who is liable for the incident, and we work with your doctors to determine the true extent of your injuries.

We prepare all our cases for a jury trial, which can give us an advantage if a settlement is offered. Because everyone knows we take cases to trial, and that we are often successful, many times our clients are offered a more just settlement from the start. We never force our clients to take an unfair settlement; instead, we talk through the potential options they have, and move forward with their best interests in mind.

Harris Lowry Manton LLP is following the investigation of the Access Road bridge collapse very carefully. You can check back here for updates. If you have questions about our services, or wish to secure representation for your case, please fill out our contact form or call us today: 404.998.8847 in Atlanta, or 912.417.3774 in Savannah.

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