Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
What are the Most Common Construction Accidents?
There are many careers that are dangerous. One job that is inherently risky is construction. Construction crews utilize power tools, large trucks, and heavy equipment, and sometimes work high above or below ground level. While safety is always important, there are sometimes hazards that result in accidents with injuries or fatalities. According to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), these are the most common causes of construction fatalities.
Falls
Falls are by far the most common cause of accidents on construction worksites. Serious injuries or fatalities can occur when someone falls while working from a height. This often includes such things as working on a ladder, a roof, or scaffolding without proper safety protection. There are various types of falls, but the two most common on construction sites are:
Falls on the Same Level – These include slips, trips, and falls, where the person is walking along on a level surface and falls.
Falls to a Lower Level – These include falls from heights, such as from a roof or scaffolding, or falling down stairs.
Electrocutions
Electrocutions happen when someone comes into contact with a live electrical wire or power line. An electrocution occurs when a person gets shocked by electricity. The current can cause an interruption of the heart and can also result in internal injuries, burns, and other injuries.
Getting Struck By an Object
A worker may be struck by a moving object. Construction sites often have moving equipment that carries loads to and from various locations at the work site. A person can get hit with a load or with tools or items that fall from locations overhead.
Getting Caught or Trapped in Machinery
Heavy equipment is often used to move loads around construction sites. A worker can get trapped between a load and a wall or other location and be crushed. A worker could be trapped in a trench or stuck in spinning machinery.
Construction Site Injuries
Construction accidents can result in serious injuries. Often, the injuries include back or neck injuries, head trauma, sprains and strains, lacerations, contusions, broken bones, and internal injuries. In some cases, the injuries will take some time to heal, and you may need to be out of work for a period of time during recovery. In some instances, the injuries may be disabling, and you may not be able to return to work.
What to Do After a Construction Accident
OSHA investigates workplace accidents such as those that occur at construction sites. Report the accident to the supervisor or manager. Seek immediate medical treatment. Typically, these are emergency situations where the local medics or an ambulance will respond. If you were injured, be sure to follow the doctor’s orders and stay out of work until you are cleared to return. Keep records of the accident details and medical reports.
Workers’ compensation should provide payments for injuries that occurred on the job. File a workers’ comp claim as soon as possible. If the claim is denied, you can appeal the decision. It is often helpful to have your attorney assist you through the process. This will help ensure that you provide the proper documentation and information to allow for a faster resolution.
If you were hurt in a work-related accident, you will want to consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Call us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to request a free initial consultation.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury and boating accidents. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.osha.com/blog/fatal-four
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