Jacob Aguilar Died in Revere Roof Fall Accident on Payson Street

REVERE, MASSACHUSETTS (Updated November 5, 2025) – A construction worker from El Salvador,  identified as Jacob Aguilar, has tragically died in a Revere workplace accident after falling from a three-story building along Payson Street.

Revere police officials are saying that the accident took place on Tuesday. The worker was on his first official day on the job when he fell from the roof.

Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim, who was in critical condition. Sadly, due to the severe nature of his injuries, he later died at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Revere officials placed a cease-and-desist letter on the door of the building. Work has been halted until further notice.

A full investigation into the fatal accident by OSHA remains ongoing at this time.

If you would like to support the Aguilar family, a GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist the victim’s family.

Liability for Revere Construction Accidents

Construction companies in Massachusetts have a legal obligation to protect workers from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This necessitates that they maintain worksites in a reasonably safe condition. It also requires that workers be provided with all of the safety equipment and training necessary to prevent falls, which are one of the leading causes of injury and death in the construction industry. Construction companies should take several measures to protect workers from falls.

• Fall Protection: Workers should be provided with personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) whenever they are working at heights of six feet or more.
• Hazard Identification: Safety inspectors should identify all potential fall hazards and take appropriate action.
• Training and Supervision: Workers should receive ample training, particularly when they are working at heights. Their actions should be carefully monitored to ensure compliance with OSHA regulations.
• Safety Barriers: Construction companies should consider installing guardrails and other safety barriers to prevent workers from falling in certain locations.

When a worker is injured or killed in Massachusetts, they or their family will typically have recourse through the workers’ compensation system. This is a no-fault insurance system designed to help workers. There is no need for an injured worker or family member to demonstrate that one or more parties were negligent. In addition to workers’ compensation, an injured worker may have legal recourse through a third-party liability claim. A third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from the worker’s employer contributed to an accident.

Third-Party Liability for Workplace Falls

Far too many workers are seriously injured or killed in preventable falls each year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “In 2023, about 1 in 5 (20.8 percent) workplace deaths occurred in the construction industry and 38.5 percent of these deaths were due to falls, slips, and trips. The construction industry accounted for 47.8 percent of all fatal falls, slips, and trips in 2023.” There could be numerous sources of third-party liability for any construction fall in Massachusetts.

• Site Owner: A property owner could be liable for a construction accident if they failed to maintain a work site in a reasonably safe condition. This may include instances where a worksite had unprotected edges or open holes.
• General Contractor: A general contractor could be liable if they fail to follow OSHA regulations for fall protection.
• Subcontractor: Construction companies are often made up of a blend of different contractors and subcontractors working towards a common goal. A subcontractor could face liability if they created a hazardous condition that resulted in a fall.
• Equipment Manufacturers: The company that manufactures a piece of construction equipment could also face legal responsibility if it is defective. This may include instances where a scaffold or guardrail failed due to faulty support joints.

Many lawsuits have been filed in Massachusetts after workers were injured or killed in construction falls. An example of this is the case of Vicuna v. Draper Properties, Inc., 99 Mass. App. Ct. 1123 (Rule 1:28) (2021). A contractor was seriously injured after falling from a roof while attempting to remove snow from it. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that the site owner was responsible for failing to provide fall protection. The family of any person who died in a workplace accident should strongly consider all of their legal options.

Injuries Commonly Associated With Construction Accidents

Falls are a leading cause of serious injury and death in the construction industry. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “In 2022 falls from elevation represented approximately 81% of all fatal and 20% of all nonfatal slips, trips, and falls for all industry workers (BLS 2023a, BLS 2023b).  Many of these falls occurred in the construction industry, and significantly impact construction employers, workers, and their families.” Here are just a few of the injuries that are commonly associated with workplace falls.

• Brain Injuries: Any type of fall from an elevated position creates a heightened risk of sustaining traumatic brain injuries (TBI). These can range from mild concussions to skull fractures.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Workers who fall from rooftops often suffer damage to their spinal cord. Vertebral fractures and herniated disks are both relatively common.
• Orthopedic Fractures: Many workplace falls result in fractures all over a person’s body. It is particularly common for a person to break bones in their arms, hands, and pelvis.
• Organ Trauma: Much of the damage from a fall will not be outwardly obvious. A fall could cause internal lacerations to vital organs and lung contusions.

Falls in the construction industry are both tragic and highly preventable. They tend to be the result of clear safety lapses. In particular, many workers do not receive proper safety training or fall protection. It is essential that victims of these accidents carefully consider all their legal options with the assistance of an experienced Boston construction injury attorney. An attorney can examine the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating Massachusetts Construction Accidents

We at DiBella Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jacob Aguilar. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA.

It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other tragedies like this. Many questions still need to be answered in the aftermath of this tragedy. Was the victim provided with fall protection? What is the safety record of the company that he worked for?

Do you need more information about a Revere construction accident? Our team of Boston construction accident attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here to serve your needs. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (617) 870-0907.