What to Do if You Get Injured in a Construction Accident

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. 

Common Construction Accident Injuries

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:

• Bone fractures
• Bone breaks
• Cuts and lacerations
• Head injuries
• Burns
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Severed appendages
• Severed limbs
• Paralysis
• Death

Causes of Construction Accident Injuries

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.

Steps to Take After a Construction Accident

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:  

• Reporting your construction accident accelerates the processing of your workers’ compensation claim.
• Reporting your construction accident makes your claim appear more valid in the eyes of your employer, the court, and the insurance company.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers to take specific actions when an accident happens. Often, these steps help prevent future accidents, thereby protecting other workers.

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:

• Witness information: If anyone witnessed your accident, request their contact information. However, if a witness is hesitant to provide you with this information, don’t press the issue. Your construction accidents attorney can obtain this information at a later date.
• Photos of the scene and any damage: If possible, take pictures of the scene of the accident. This is particularly important if the unreasonably dangerous conditions of your worksite caused your accident. In addition, you should take pictures of any damage that you sustained as a result of the accident.
• Medical records: From day one, you should keep track of all medical records and expenses related to your accident. This is necessary for you to receive proper compensation for your medical expenses. In addition, you should begin keeping a journal to document the impact of the accident on your daily life. 
• Correspondence with your employer: Be sure to save all written correspondence with your employer. In addition, you should take notes about any unwritten correspondence with your employer regarding the accident or your injuries, including telephone calls and in-person conversations.
• Contact an attorney: Finally, if you’ve been injured in a construction accident, you should contact a work injury lawyer in Los Angeles as soon as possible for assistance.

Should You Call a Lawyer After an Accident?

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.