A cyclist has filed a Miami bridge collapse lawsuit after a pedestrian bridge fell apart and injured dozens of people. This Miami bridge collapse lawsuit names a number of companies as defendants including Figg Bridge Engineers Inc. and Munilla Construction Management LLC, each of which were involved in the bridge’s construction.

Experts predict that this Miami bridge collapse lawsuit is the first of many personal injury claims that will be filed, alleging the construction companies were liable for injuries linked to the bridge collapse. The bridge collapse killed six people and injured dozens of others, leaving numerous people with extensive medical bills and questions about who is to blame for the incident.

According to Law360, personal injury attorneys involved in the claim describe the accident as a “massive liability” and “there is no question that human error is responsible.” Filing a personal injury claim like this not an easy task, with potential claimants encouraged to consult an attorney as soon as possible.

The primary priorities of this Miami bridge collapse lawsuit are establishing liability and determining how the incident happened. The potential cause could be construction issues, design defect, or other factors, which will be determined during the investigation process.

Overview of Miami Bridge Collapse Lawsuit

The Miami bridge collapse lawsuit is being filed by plaintiff Marquise H., who was riding his bicycle under the pedestrian bridge that is located next to Florida International University. Marquise alleges a concrete slab fell as he rode his bicycle, which caused a car to collide with him.

While Marquise survived, five people who were stopped at a red light under the bridge and one worker who was on the bridge did not, with them having no way of escaping the falling debris. In addition, Marquise alleges the companies failed to close the road below the bridge, even though they were conducting testing.

Even though the Miami bridge was not open to pedestrians, vehicles and bicycles could still drive through. In addition, the workers on the bridge were reportedly conducting stress tests on the bridge or tightening cables, but there have been no officials statements regarding this.

Along with Figg Bridge Engineers Inc. and Munilla Construction Management LLC, the Miami bridge collapse lawsuit also names Network Engineering Services Inc., engineering and construction firm Bolton Perez and Associates, and architecture firm Louis Berger US as defendants in the claim.

The Miami bridge collapse lawsuit alleges the companies were responsible for failing to notice cracks and other potential safety hazards protruding on the bridge, and not taking any action to fix them. According to a press conference, Marquise’s attorney stated the firm had its own team of engineers to help with their investigation process.

Marquise’s attorney estimates this Miami bridge collapse lawsuit may be seeking damages between $500 million and $1 billion, given the number of allegations against the building companies and engineers involved in the project.

The government investigation is reportedly set to take up to a year to complete, but legal experts predict that personal injury claims will be filed sooner. Some of these personal injury claims could potentially go to trial, before the government investigation is concluded.

This Miami Bridge Collapse Lawsuit is Case No. 2018-008144-CA, in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.