Shooting Reported at Tampa Construction Site

Workplace violence is becoming an increasingly serious threat in Florida, and many employees face the very real danger of being assaulted while trying to earn a living. If you were injured because of workplace violence, you might be wondering about your legal options. While criminal charges are certainly possible, they generally fail to provide any compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages. Could a workers’ compensation claim in Tampa help in this regard?

Contractor Fatally Wounded After Weapons Drawn at Construction Site 

In November of 2024, various sources reported a shooting at a construction site in St. Petersburg. The incident occurred at a private residence, and various contractors were participating in a remodeling project. The general contractor in charge of overseeing the entire project got into a verbal altercation with a tile subcontractor about payment issues. Eventually, this argument spiraled out of control – leading the tile subcontractor to smash some of the work he had completed.

Seeing this destruction, the general contractor went to his truck to retrieve a firearm – intending to threaten the tile worker. When he returned, the tile worker’s father (who was also working at the site) drew his own firearm and shot the general contractor. Although the wounded man was taken to a nearby hospital, he eventually succumbed to his wounds and died.

When questioned by police, the tile subcontractor’s father stated that he was trying to defend his son. The local police agreed and neglected to arrest him, concluding that his actions constituted justifiable self-defense.

Can a Workplace Shooting Lead to a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Florida? 

Regardless of what you might think about the outcome of this incident, it raises important questions about workers’ compensation claims in Florida. Can you file a claim if you were injured in a workplace shooting, stabbing, or assault? The answer depends on your unique circumstances.

If you were merely the victim of workplace violence, you should be able to file a workers’ comp claim without any issues. That being said, you must have been engaging in workplace duties at the time of the incident. If you were interacting with a colleague outside of work hours, a claim might be impossible.

Perhaps most notably, a workers’ comp claim is generally impossible if you were the “aggressor.” In other words, if you attack someone else and suffer wounds when they try to defend themselves, you cannot file a workers’ comp claim. This means that the general subcontractor’s family probably cannot pursue death benefits under workers’ compensation.

Can a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Tampa Help? 

If you have been injured at work, a Tampa workers’ compensation lawyer may be able to help you recover enough to cover your medical costs, lost income, and other damages. It doesn’t matter whether you were injured in an accident or an intentional attack. Workers’ compensation should apply to any and all injuries you suffered on the job, and The Franco Law Firm can help you pursue this source of financial security. Reach out today to get started with an action plan.

Sources: 

abcactionnews.com/news/region-pinellas/man-shot-killed-in-st-pete-after-fight-at-vacant-home-police

wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/st-pete-deadly-shooting-self-defense-contractor-tile-worker/67-201df300-0497-42e2-9c10-081ec1cd50eb