Due to the presence of hazardous working conditions, construction sites pose a greater danger to employees than other work environments. Despite serious efforts on the part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to improve the safety of construction site work conditions, there is still a very high injury rate among construction workers.
Construction Accident Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded the following data about construction accidents for the 2004 calendar year:
- 20% of on-the-job fatalities occurred at construction sites
- 10% of non-fatal work injuries occurred at construction sites
- 1,234 workers died in construction accidents, a 9% increase from the previous year
- There were 12 fatalities for every 100,000 construction workers, the fourth highest work fatality rate of any industry in the country
- Falls were responsible for the largest number of construction accident fatalities (36%)
- 401,000 construction workers were injured in nonfatal work-related accidents
- Most construction injuries caused employees to miss more than one month of work
- Sprains and strains were the most common types of injuries (37% of construction injuries)
- Back injuries accounted for 21% of bodily injuries
Causes of Construction Accidents
Some of the most common causes of construction accidents include:
- Falling objects
- Ladder falls
- Falls from scaffolding
- Fall through accidents
- Loading and unloading truck freight
- Crane and forklift accidents
- Defective machinery
- Careless co-workers
- Heavy machinery accidents
Workers’ Compensation
If you have been injured in a construction accident, you may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. However, these benefits will often not be sufficient to cover all of your medical expenses and lost wages. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against a third party to recover damages.
While workers’ compensation often prevents lawsuits against employers, it allows you to recover from negligent third parties. For example, if your injuries were caused by defective machinery, you may be able to sue the equipment manufacturer. If your injuries were caused by an unsafe working environment, you may be able to sue the person responsible for maintaining safe working conditions.
Construction accident lawsuits are often very complex and involve multiple parties, including:
- Owners
- Insurance companies
- Equipment manufacturers
- Contractors
- Subcontractors
Due to the complicated nature of these claims, it is important to hire an attorney who specializes in construction accident cases. Your claim should not be left to a general practitioner.
You can use the links below to find an experienced construction accident lawyer in your area.
