Construction on the new Levi’s Stadium for the San Francisco 49ers was temporarily halted after a fatal construction accident at the Santa Clara, California site. A 60-year-old construction worker was severely injured while unloading rebar at the stadium construction site yesterday morning. He died of his injuries after being transported to the hospital. The construction accident is under investigation by Cal/OSHA and the local police department.

Yesterday’s accident was the second fatal work injury accident to occur during construction of the 2 million square foot stadium which is scheduled for completion in time for the start of the 2014 football season. In June, a 63-year-old worker was struck and killed by an elevator counterweight while working in the elevator shaft.

More than 4,380 fatal occupational injuries occurred in 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of labor Statistics. Thirty-six of those fatalities occurred in St. Louis. Fatal work accidents have increased an average 2% per year over the past five years. Construction sites, however, are among the most hazardous work sites in the U.S. Fatal work accidents at construction sites increased 5% between 2011 and 2012, ending a steady 5-year decrease in the number of fatal construction injuries.

If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a construction accident, the St. Louis personal injury attorneys at Hoffman & Gelfman can help you or your family navigate the complexities of Missouri’s Worker’s Compensation Act and ensure that you (or your survivors) receive the compensation to which you are entitled.