Working on a construction site is a dangerous hazard. Workers face numerous risks, including moving objects, slips, trips, working at heights, vibration, and manual handling. If you sustain an injury at a construction site, you can pursue compensation for your losses.
Although you may recover compensation if someone other than your employer injured you, you must demonstrate the fault of the negligent party. Further, the at-fault party's insurer may reject your claim or make a low settlement offer that doesn't cover your losses.
You should, therefore, work with a legal professional who can explain your legal options and protect your rights as an injured victim. A construction accident lawyer can investigate the cause of the accident and initiate a workers’ compensation claim with your employer’s insurer, and/or a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the at-fault party.
What are the most common causes of construction accidents?
Construction sites are high-risk environments, and most injuries stem from a few common hazards:
- Falls from heights like scaffolding or rooftops
- Being struck by falling tools or debris
- Electrocution from unsafe wiring or equipment
- Machinery accidents due to poor training or faulty equipment
- Collisions with construction vehicles
- Getting caught between heavy equipment or structures
- Being struck by swinging loads or dropped tools
If someone besides your employer caused your injury, you may be eligible for a personal injury claim on top of workers’ comp.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Construction Accidents?
In most workplace accidents, workers may rely only on workers’ compensation to pay for their medical bills and income replacement. Workers’ comp rarely pays much more than that.
But construction sites differ from offices and offices.
The construction industry’s fast-paced and high-risk nature increases the risk of accidents. It also involves many subcontractors—steelworkers, plumbers and pipefitters, electricians, carpenters, laborers—all working around each other. This can increase the likelihood that someone other than your employer might contribute to your injuries.
If a third party injures you on a construction site, you may file a negligence suit against them, and stand to recover substantially more money, including for pain and suffering—which you may well need to offset your medical costs.
Here are the common causes of construction accidents:
Falls from Heights
Falls from elevated surfaces, such as ladders, scaffolding, or rooftops, are among the leading causes of injuries and fatalities in the construction industry. Lack of fall protection, improper equipment use, and inadequate safety training often contribute to these accidents.
Falling Objects
Workers and members of the public near construction sites are at risk of being struck by falling objects. Whether it's tools, debris, or construction materials, there is a risk of serious injuries and fatalities.
Electrocution
Construction sites often involve electrical work, creating a heightened risk of electrocution accidents.
Familiar sources of electrocution risk include:
- Failure to follow electrical safety guidelines
- Improper use of equipment
- Working near power lines without proper precautions
Electrocution can cause a wide range of injuries, including burns, cardiac arrest, neurological damage, and respiratory failure.
Machinery Accidents
Using heavy machinery and equipment on construction sites also exposes users to the risk of accidents. Inadequate training, lack of maintenance, and failure to follow safety protocols when working with machinery can result in crush injuries, amputations, or other serious incidents.
Vehicle Accidents
Construction involves frequent movement of vehicles, such as trucks, excavators, and cranes. Collisions, rollovers, and workers being struck by moving vehicles are all potential hazards that can result in severe injuries.
Proper traffic management and adherence to safety precautions are essential to prevent these accidents.
Caught in Between Accidents
Workers can also risk getting caught between heavy machinery, equipment, or structures on construction sites. Failure to properly secure materials, inadequate machine guarding, or working in confined spaces without proper safety measures can lead to crushing injuries or suffocation.
Struck By Accidents
Lastly, being struck by objects or equipment on the construction site is a prevalent cause of accidents. Whether it's an accident by a swinging crane load, a moving vehicle, or a tool dropped from above, workers face the risk of serious injuries or fatalities as a result of being struck by hazards.
You may recover compensation if someone else's negligence injures you in a construction accident. A construction accident lawyer can advise you on the steps you can take to protect your rights as an injured victim.
Top 10 Construction Injuries
Construction sites can be hazardous environments, leading to various types of injuries.
Here are the top 10 most common construction injuries that workers may encounter:
- Fractures and broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Electrocution injuries
- Crush injuries
- Amputations
- Neck and back injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Nerve damage
- Facial disfigurement
What to Do After a Construction Accident
The steps you take after a construction accident can enhance your wellness and rights as an injured victim.
Here's what you should do after a construction accident:
Seek Medical Attention
After a construction accident, seeking medical attention should be your top priority. Even if you feel okay after the accident, symptoms of some injuries may not be immediately apparent. Internal injuries, concussions, and whiplash can manifest hours or days after the incident.
A comprehensive review by a healthcare provider can discover any hidden injuries. They will also initiate treatment to allow you to recover from the injury.
Further, a healthcare provider will create vital records like medical bills, doctor's notes, or prescription notes. A construction accident lawyer can use medical records to prove the extent of your injuries.
An insurer can question the severity of your injury if you delay seeking medical attention, which can affect your ability to recover compensation for your losses.
Inform the Authorities About the Construction Accident
You should file an incident report with the authorities at a construction site. An incident report of a formal cord with details of an accident in a work-related setting.
An incident report includes date, time, location, and a description of what happened, those involved, and any witnesses.
A construction accident attorney can use an incident report to establish facts of the incident, identify potential liable parties, and document the nature of injuries.
Alternatively, you can alert law enforcement officers about the construction accident. When you notify the police about a construction accident, they can dispatch emergency services.
When a police officer arrives at the scene, they will generate a police accident report, which you can rely on to initiate a claim.
Contacting the police allows for a thorough investigation. This investigation can help determine the cause of the accident, identify any liable parties, and uncover any potential negligence that may have contributed to the incident.
You are taking proactive steps to protect your rights and interests after a construction accident by involving a law enforcement officer.
Consult a Construction Accident Lawyer
You may be overwhelmed by the physical injury, emotions, and pain associated with a construction accident. This is where consulting a construction accident attorney can prove invaluable.
A seasoned construction accident lawyer who understands personal injury law can guide you through the legal process, ensuring your rights are protected and advocating for the compensation you deserve.
An experienced construction accident attorney can investigate the accident, gather evidence, and determine liability, all while representing your best interests. By enlisting the help of a construction accident attorney, you can level the playing field when going up against powerful construction companies and their insurance providers.
Moreover, a construction accident attorney can provide peace of mind during a tumultuous time. They can handle communication with insurance companies, negotiate settlements, and even represent you in court if necessary.
With their support, you can focus on your recovery while they work tirelessly to secure the compensation you need to move forward.
Who Can Be Liable for a Construction Site Accident?
Construction site accidents can result in devastating injuries and financial losses. You can hold multiple parties liable for damages after these. You should understand the potential parties liable for a construction accident to protect your rights as an injured victim.
Here are a few parties who may be responsible for a construction accident:
Property Owners
Property owners must maintain a safe working environment. If they fail to address hazardous conditions that lead to an accident, you can hold them liable for negligence.
A construction accident lawyer can use images, incident reports, and witness statements to prove the negligent actions of a property owner.
Contractors and Subcontractors
Contractors and subcontractors ensure that work is performed safely and complies with industry standards. They can be liable for injury-related losses if their negligence or carelessness contributes to an accident.
Equipment Manufacturers
Equipment manufacturers must produce safe and reliable products. If a construction site accident is caused by defective machinery or tools, the manufacturer may be liable for the resulting injuries.
Equipment Maintenance Providers
Companies or individuals responsible for maintaining construction equipment are also accountable for providing quality service. Failure to perform routine maintenance checks could lead to accidents.
A construction accident attorney can use repair logs, images, and reports demonstrating that the service provider did not adhere to stipulated standards.
Architects and Engineers
Architects and engineers are responsible for designing and overseeing construction projects. If design flaws or errors in the planning process contribute to an accident, they may be implicated in the liability.
Utility Companies
Utility companies that supply power, gas, water, and telecommunication services to a construction site are responsible for ensuring that their operations do not pose risks to workers.
If negligence on the part of a utility company results in an accident, they may be deemed liable for damages.
Compensation for Construction Accidents
You're likely to endure various financial and emotional losses if you or a loved one suffers an injury in a construction accident. Compensation for a construction accident allows the injured victim to restore their financial or emotional position before the accident.
Medical Expenses
You must seek medical attention after being injured in a construction accident. The medical expenses related to your injury can quickly add up, causing financial disruption. From emergency room visits to surgeries and physical therapy, compensation can help cover these costs and ensure you receive the necessary medical treatment for your injuries.
A construction accident attorney can rely on medical records to prove the need for compensation for your medical expenses.
Lost Income
When you cannot work due to your construction accident injuries, you may experience a loss of income. Compensation can replace the income you missed while recovering, providing financial support during a challenging time.
Lost income consists of all forms of compensation, including salary, tips, bonuses, overtime, and missed commissions. A construction accident attorney can use pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, and a letter from your employer to prove your claim for lost income.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Beyond medical bills and lost income, you may incur out-of-pocket expenses related to your construction accident. These damages can include transportation costs for medical appointments, home modifications for accessibility, or hiring an assistant for childcare and home chores.
Pain and Suffering
The physical pain and emotional suffering endured as a result of a construction accident can be immense. Compensation for pain and suffering aims to address the emotional distress, trauma, and physical discomfort that you have experienced due to the accident.
Emotional Anguish
Construction accidents can have a lasting impact on your mental well-being. If the events leading to the construction accident were traumatic, you may experience emotional anguish. Similarly, discovering you'll be permanently disfigured can affect your mental health.
Compensation for emotional anguish acknowledges the psychological and emotional suffering caused by the accident. An experienced construction accident attorney can use medical records and expert witness testimony to demonstrate the severity and duration of emotional distress.
Loss of Companionship
If a construction accident has resulted in the loss of a loved one, you may be entitled to loss of companionship. These damages recognize the emotional support, care, and shared activities you enjoyed with the deceased loved one.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Following a construction accident, the injury may prevent you from participating in activities and hobbies that once brought you joy. Compensation for the loss of enjoyment of life aims to restore some quality of life by providing the means to pursue alternative interests and accommodations.
Permanent Disability or Disfigurement
In cases where a construction accident results in permanent disability or disfigurement, compensation can help mitigate the long-term consequences of these life-altering injuries. These damages consider the impact on your ability to work, engage in daily activities, and maintain a fulfilling quality of life.
Get The Compensation You Deserve With the Support of a Construction Accident Attorney
You're likely to endure a lengthy treatment plan and lose productivity after being injured in a construction accident. As you're dealing with the overwhelming pain or physical injury, you must also pursue legal action against the at-fault party.
A construction accident lawyer can be your strongest ally if you're injured on a construction site. They can communicate and negotiate with insurers on your behalf and work hard to maximize the settlement value of your claim.
Get in touch with a construction accident attorney for legal support.
