Earlier this year a building in Chester, VA collapsed. Unfortunately, a drywall hanger was crushed. Luckily he was the only significant injury.

While such an event is tragic on a human level, the financial, legal and insurance aftermath can be even worse. Because of this, the proper reaction is essential in the hours, days and weeks following such a tragedy.

If you are unlucky enough to be an owner, architect, engineer, or contractor on a project that results in disaster, you need to get legal counsel, immediately contact your insurance company and have an independent third party evaluate the situation. For further steps, please check out this article I wrote for Business Law Bulletin of Virginia.

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UPDATE: Scott Wolfe of the Wolfe Law Group has this great follow up on the need to focus on construction safety.