Bridge Collapse Lawyer in Baltimore

A major bridge in Baltimore, the Francis Scott Key Bridge, collapsed after being hit by a freighter on March 26, 2024, sending people into the water as a large section of the bridge crashed into the Patapsco River.

The Governor of Maryland stated that the ship’s crew warned of power issues with their vessel before it ultimately collided into the bridge.

Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said emergency personnel removed two people from the water—one was in very serious condition and the other was uninjured. He also mentioned that up to 20 people could have fallen into the water. 

The Baltimore City Fire Department described the collapse as a “mass casualty incident.”

• A bridge may collapse for a number of reasons, but the most common can include:
• Design Flaws: Poor design, inadequate engineering, or structural deficiencies can compromise the integrity of a bridge, leading to collapse.
• Construction Defects: Errors or shortcuts during the construction process can weaken the bridge structure and increase the risk of failure.
• Material Failures: Corrosion, deterioration, or substandard materials can weaken bridge components over time, eventually leading to collapse.
• Natural Disasters: Severe weather events such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, or landslides can damage bridges and trigger collapse.
• Lack of Maintenance: Neglecting routine inspections, repairs, and maintenance can allow small issues to escalate into major structural problems that contribute to collapse.

Collisions: Like with the Key Bridge disaster, a rogue ship or aircraft could collide with a bridge and cause mass damage.

No matter the cause, most bridge collapses are ultimately due to negligence, whether it’s not keeping a structure up to code or unattended vessel concerns that lead to an accident.

• Loss of Life and Injuries: Bridge collapses can result in fatalities and serious injuries for motorists, pedestrians, and bystanders caught in the collapse.
• Property Damage: Vehicles, buildings, and infrastructure located near the bridge may sustain damage or destruction during a collapse.
• Economic Disruption: Bridge closures can disrupt transportation routes, leading to delays, detours, and economic losses for businesses and communities.
• Environmental Consequences: Bridge collapses can result in environmental contamination from hazardous materials, pollutants, or debris entering waterways or surrounding areas.

Bridge collapses are tragic events with far-reaching consequences for individuals, communities, and society as a whole. By working with an experienced bridge collapse lawyer in Baltimore, victims can seek justice, hold responsible parties accountable, and prevent future tragedies.

The types of claims that bridge collapse victims can pursue include:

• Personal Injury Claims: Individuals injured in a bridge collapse may have legal grounds to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
• Wrongful Death Claims: Family members of individuals killed in a bridge collapse may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for their loss.
• Product Liability Claims: If a bridge collapse was caused by defective materials or components, victims may be able to hold manufacturers or suppliers liable for their injuries and losses.
• Premises Liability Claims: Property owners or government entities responsible for bridge maintenance and safety may be held liable for negligence if their actions or inaction contributed to the collapse.

Bridges are maintained by each state’s Department of Transportation unless it’s owned by federal agencies or private entities. Still, the responsibility for a bridge’s failure will likely fall on a number of organizations, including the designer and builder in some cases.

Parties that can be held liable include the state, the bridge designer, contractor, or subcontractor, or maintenance and inspection companies. Determining whether the bridge was originally designed and constructed properly is critical in determining which parties can be held liable.

The statute of limitations will likely protect the bridge designer and builders if the bridge collapses many years after it’s constructed. In cases like what happened at FIU in Miami, more parties may be held accountable because the bridge was recently constructed and not even open to the public at the time it fell.

If a construction worker is injured in a bridge collapse, they can file a workers’ compensation claim with their employer and collect money for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, among other damages. They may also be able to file a third party lawsuit if a lawyer can determine that a party other than the construction worker’s employer contributed to the accident.

In the most severe accidents, in which construction workers are killed, their loved ones could file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible parties. Even though a lawsuit will not bring back a family member, it can provide them with compensation for expenses related to their loved one’s death and ease the financial strain it may create.

Additionally, if an error in a ship navigating along the waterway under a bridge causes a collision with the bridge, the parties responsible for the safe navigation of that ship may be held liable.

At Morgan & Morgan, our attorneys have experience handling bridge collapse accident cases. This experience allows us to help those who reach out to us without delay. 

Ultimately, the faster we begin the legal process, the faster you can receive the compensation you may need and certainly deserve. To learn more about how our Baltimore bridge collapse lawyers may be able to help you after an accident, contact us today for a free, no-obligation case review.