According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 150,000 workers are hurt on a construction site each year. While falls represent the majority of construction site injuries, direct contact with equipment is also a substantial cause of workers' injuries.
Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ensures safe and healthy working conditions for workers by setting and enforcing certain requirements, the truth is that accidents are going to occur. That's why it is crucial to have an experienced construction site injury lawyer you trust to represent you in the instance that an accident does happen.
As a safe and responsible construction employee, it is vital to understand your worksite's risks. You can take the right precautions, put in place by OSHA, wear the correct safety equipment, and never take unnecessary risks that fail to abide by worksite safety protocols. However, the truth is that you can still suffer a serious injury while on a construction site, even if you thought you did everything right. Here at The Cochran Firm, our personal injury lawyers will assist you in navigating your injury, whether it is navigating your state's workers’ compensation system with you or merely pursuing a legal claim on your behalf.
Although by nature, construction sites are dangerous locations to work, that doesn't mean your manager does not have the duty to keep you and your co-workers safe. And it also does not mean that you lose your right to justice if you suffer an injury.
Construction lawyers assist a wide array of customers–from large construction companies to individual workers of those companies, to property owners, all the way to sureties. In fact, anyone who is associated with the construction process may find themselves in need of a construction site lawyer at some point in their life.
However, The Cochran Firm believes in representing the victims of building and construction site accidents to ensure they receive compensation for their pain and suffering. Numerous complex liability concerns come with construction accident claims, so it is vital to seek advice from a legal representative who has experience in handling third-party injury claims. The lawyers at The Cochran Firm have not only have the experience but the tenacious attitudes it takes to go up against any insurance company who tries to reject their employees the compensation they are owed.
If you find yourself injured on a construction site, you might be able to pursue one or more of the following types of claims:
OSHA was made to ensure safe working conditions for employees across the country. Under OSHA, employees throughout the country have the right to:
A knowledgeable construction site attorney can help workers who have been hurt on the job that believe their worksite was dangerous (and did not follow OSHA standards) file a complaint with OSHA. As soon as a worker submits a complaint, they cannot be fired, demoted, or otherwise retaliated against by their employer. If you or a loved one has recently filed a complaint with OSHA and were retaliated against by their employer, a legal representative can help file a claim against the employer for retaliation.
Construction accidents are bound to happen and can occur for many different reasons. OSHA requires employers to acquire specific permits, administer regular inspections, and execute job safety programs to minimize the number of worksite accidents. However, negligence, failure to follow preventative safety measures, and defective products can all lead to construction site accidents that are inevitable. A few of the most common construction site accidents include:
The seriousness of falling object accident injuries depends on the size and weight of the item that has fallen, the height from which it fell, whether it was slowed by other objects, and whether or not the worker that was hurt was using the proper protective equipment. A few reasons an employee can be struck by an object consist of:
Some of the most commonly sustained injuries in construction site accidents involving falling objects include:
Employees working on construction sites are almost always exposed to different slip and fall hazards. Whether they are working on the ground or on scaffolding that is a number of stories high, slip and fall accidents happen more frequently than they should. A few of the most common slip and fall danger factors at construction sites consist of:
Within the construction industry, there are two types of slip and fall accidents that employees can suffer from:
A few examples of injuries that construction employees may suffer after a slip and fall accident include:
Getting caught in between objects, or even equipment, is one of the most common causes of death of construction workers. These accidents occur when a worker becomes crushed, squeezed, caught, pinched, or compressed in between two items, parts of two objects, or buried by objects (like a collapsed structure or in a trench).
Construction site employees can become seriously injured or even die when caught between objects or machinery in many ways. Some common ways these caught-between accidents happen include:
Caught-between accidents can cause severe injuries. These injuries may include:
From underground gas lines to temporary heating devices to electrical systems, construction sites are full of dangers that can turn a day's usual work to explosive in mere seconds. It only takes a single spark or a spec of dust to trigger a construction site fire or explosion that can injure or take the life of many workers. A few of the most common causes of these mishaps include:
Fires and explosions can cause injuries that vary from minor to extreme. However, the most common injuries are burns and can either be first-degree, second-degree, or third-degree burns. In the case the incident is catastrophic, it can result in many casualties.
Electrical accidents can cause serious damage both internally and externally and can unfold in a variety of unfolds. Construction sites have plenty of threats, and electric currents are just one of them. Even when employees take the correct preventative measures, they can still suffer from electrocution. A few of the leading reasons for being electrocuted include:
Regrettably, electrical currents trigger severe damage. While external injuries might be obvious right after the incident occurs, internal injuries can be dangerous and need to be dealt with as soon as possible. Injuries that a construction site worker may suffer will depend upon many factors, such as the voltage, their health, the length of exposure, and how much current flows through the body. When a worker suffers an electrical accident, they can suffer from numerous injuries, consisting of:
Construction sites are full of heavy machinery, and when equipment of that size is defective, it can cause extreme disaster. Whether the equipment was initially manufactured with major defects or it was simply neglected, it can still cause major injury. A couple of examples of malfunctioning equipment that can be particularly unsafe on constructions sites are:
When these types of tools and devices malfunction, they can result in severe injuries to the person operating them as well as other employees who are nearby. Some common injuries that employees may face due to faulty equipment consist of:
If you do not see the accident that you have suffered from above, take a look at some other construction site accidents listed below:
The unfortunate truth is that the lax commitment to safety and training requirements, along with the increasing need for faster networks, has led to dangerous conditions for numerous construction workers.
The truth is that construction site jobs are very hazardous no matter what precautions you may take. Whether it is faulty devices, the neglect of others, or simply a freak accident, you deserve to get the help you need from an attorney you trust. If you or a loved one becomes hurt due to a construction accident:
Many companies carry workers' compensation insurance. If that is the case for your company, they are most likely provided immunity from personal injury lawsuits. Nevertheless, workers’ compensation does not restrict claims against employers if the injury was deliberate or abhorrent, but it is more common to file a claim against a third party. Those third parties consist of:
If you have been injured on a construction site but are unsure of who is responsible, contact a construction accident lawyer today for a free, no-obligation initial consultation.
As many of us know, construction accidents can result in extreme physical, financial, and mental pain for victims and their loved ones. Substantial medical expenses, dealing with a severe injury, and permanent injuries can have a considerable effect on and even change one's quality of life. By taking legal action against the negligent party that caused your injury, a lawyer can help you recover:
If you have been injured on a construction site and believe you have a claim for your injuries, an experienced lawyer can assist you with your personal injury lawsuit. Although it may seem complex and daunting, the right lawyer will help you navigate the legal process during this stressful time.
