Clark County’s Fire Department (CCFD) as well as other Las Vegas authorities reported the partial collapse of La Bonita Supermarket on an early morning in August 2021. According to news reports, at least four people were hurt, including one victim who had to be extracted from the rubble. All four victims were immediately taken to the closest hospital with various levels of injuries, none of which were life-threatening. The partial collapse of the grocery store occurred in the early morning, and only the front part of the supermarket crumbled. Additionally, the interior of the store seemed unaffected but it was expected that further collapse was likely and, therefore, building inspectors deemed the structure unsafe.
At the time the supermarket collapse occurred, at least a dozen employees were inside the store according to a report by the Las Vegas Review Journal. As many as 45 first responders arrived at the site, which included the supermarket’s front awning collapse and its windows shattering, at 6:18am and found one person trapped in the rubble. Authorities did not specify if the victims were customers or employees of the supermarket.
While the matter remains under investigation and further inquiry is necessary in order to fully understand why the collapse occurred, the theory is that there were preexisting deficiencies that were worsened by bad weather that occurred the night before the collapse. Regardless of the causes of the accident, La Bonita Supermarkets may be held legally and financially liable for any injuries suffered by victims.
Premises Liability in Nevada
Everyone expects the buildings and structures that they enter on a daily basis to be reasonably safe and structurally sound. As can be seen in the La Bonita Supermarkets situation, structural collapses occur more often than most people think or realize. When these collapses do occur, it is often that the cause of the accident is negligence. The causes can include faulty design and poor maintenance, among others, which are largely preventable issues.
Some of the most common causes of structural collapse that are related to negligence may include:
- Defective design;
- Defective construction;
- Poor building maintenance;
- Flawed building inspections;
- Defective building materials;
- Defective building foundation;
- Overly heavy loads;
- Building code violations; or
- Preventable explosions and fires.
It does not matter if the building collapse is small or large, the resulting injuries can often be serious or even fatal. Many victims of building collapses sustain catastrophic injuries, including brain injuries, head injuries, broken bones, scrapes and bruises, and spinal cord trauma. Other victims are killed. Survivors of building collapses often suffer from mental health issues including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. All of the symptoms resulting from these medical conditions can cause short and long-term disability, require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, and financial strain.
Our Premises Liability Attorneys
Building collapses, or even other premises liability-related accidents, can happen anywhere. If you or someone you care about has been involved in a Las Vegas, Nevada, building collapse accident, contact the skilled attorneys at H&P Law. Our legal team will fight for the compensation you deserve and help you through this process. Contact us today to schedule your initial case evaluation.
