The construction industry is notoriously dangerous, and construction workers routinely suffer catastrophic injuries on the job. Given the frequency of construction accidents, every construction worker should know what to do following a construction accident. In this article, we discuss what to do if you get injured in a construction accident. For additional information, please contact a construction accidents lawyer for assistance.
The life of a construction worker is extremely risky. In fact, roughly 10% of all workplace injuries occur on construction sites. Common construction injuries include:
There are several types of accidents that cause injuries on construction sites. Common causes of construction accident injuries include:
Falls: Construction work is often performed on ladders, buildings, and tall machinery. Given the elevated heights from which construction workers perform their jobs, falls are almost certain to result in injury. In fact, around 30% of all construction site injuries are the result of falls.
Vehicles: Vehicles are constantly in motion on construction sites. In addition, some construction workers often work on the side of public roads, putting them into close contact with passing traffic. The presence of moving vehicles on and near construction sites frequently results in collisions that cause serious injuries.
Debris: Falling debris is a common risk of working on a construction site. Even when safety equipment is worn, employees who are struck by falling tools, building materials, and other unsecured items often suffer injuries.
Equipment: In addition to smaller vehicles like cars and trucks, heavy equipment is frequently used to perform construction work. For example, items like cranes, cement mixers, forklifts, and bulldozers are common on construction sites. The size and power of these vehicles make them extremely dangerous, and the injuries they cause are often catastrophic.
Fires and explosions: Fires and explosions can occur at construction sites due to things like unfinished electrical systems, flammable chemicals, exposed wiring, and other dangerous materials and situations. When such incidents occur, the consequences to nearby workers are usually serious.
Overexertion: Construction work is hard, physical, outdoor labor. The extreme physical exertion required of construction work makes employees susceptible to a number of injuries, including heat stroke, muscular and joint damage, repetitive motion injuries, and hypothermia.
Collapses: When structures are being built or demolished, they run the risk of collapsing. When a building unexpectedly collapses, serious injuries are practically guaranteed. In addition, worksite trenches often collapse, seriously hurting construction workers in the process.
Given the dangers associated with working in the construction industry, all construction workers should know what to do following a construction accident. If you are injured in a construction accident, here are the steps you should take.
Get medical help: Following a construction accident, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. In fact, this applies even if you believe your injuries are minor. In many cases, injury symptoms don’t appear immediately after an injury, especially for certain types of head injuries. Not only is promptly treating your injuries important for your health, it can also help your case down the road if you decide to file a workers’ compensation claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
Tell your employer: After you receive medical attention, you should report your accident to your employer as soon as possible. When you report your accident, be sure to put the report in writing and ask your employer for a copy. You should be as specific as possible when detailing the circumstances of the accident. Promptly reporting your accident to your employer serves several purposes, including:
Gather information: Following a construction accident, you should gather as much information about the accident and your injuries as possible. This will help ensure that you have everything you need to obtain financial compensation through workers’ compensation or a personal injury lawsuit. Information you should collect following a construction accident includes:
If you’ve suffered injuries in a construction accident, you should definitely call a lawyer. At Glotzer & Leib, LLP, personal injury attorney Josh Glotzer is here for you and your family. When you come to Glotzer & Leib, LLP, for assistance following your injury, we will dedicate ourselves to obtaining justice for you and your family. When you become our client, we will work tirelessly to protect your rights under the law, including taking all steps necessary to negotiate a fair settlement or take your case to trial. Please contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our knowledgeable construction accidents lawyer.
“Mr. Glotzer represented me after I was involved in a car accident. I was badly injured,but the insurance company refused to offer me a reasonable settlement. I decided to find an attorney and decided to hire Josh.
His law firm did a great job on my case. They were very responsive to all my questions and obtained a great resolution for me. I received way more money than was originally offered. I would recommend their firm to friends and family.”
“Mr. Josh Glotzer is a great attorney. Over the last 15 years he has helped me on a number of cases with professionalism, and more importantly a positive outcome in my favor. I have referred him to a number of friends and colleagues, all of which have been equally as happy with his legal representation. I trust him and confident in legal ability. I highly recommend his law firm.”
“Don’t try to deal with insurance companies on your own. They strung me along for almost two years before I gave the case to Glotzer & Leib. Josh and his team quickly obtained a settlement that netted me many times what the insurance company was offering. Thank You!”
“My wife was in a car accident last year and Josh did an amazing job representing her. It’s very refreshing to see someone in his profession that actually cares and puts his clients first. He’s the best in the business and I feel so fortunate that I was referred to him. Keep up the great work and thanks for everything you did for my family!”
“I was in a rear end car accident last year and hired Mr. Glotzer’s office. It wasn’t a big case but their office helped me with my property damage claim and did a good job resolving the injury portion of the case as well.”
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