Construction Site Accidents

Construction site employers must ensure construction site safety for their employees. On-site conditions must comply with regulations to minimize the risk of injury at all times. There are numerous hazards that exist in construction and an employer has a strict duty to safeguard the welfare and the well-being of all employees.

Although construction workers are supposed to be trained in basic safety, accidents still occur on job sites. According to the OHSA, only about 10 percent of construction companies employ more than 20 workers, and many companies have no formal job safety regulations or programs in place.

Construction site accidents often occur as a result of faulty materials, inferior tools and equipment, malfunctioning machinery and negligence. Employees are often working in and with hazardous environments such as trenches, heights and power lines, and dangerous equipment.

Most accidents are caused by being hit by or caught in equipment, over-exertion and falls. Sprains and strains, cuts and punctures, fractures, bruises and soreness account for most common injuries. But among all construction-related occupations, The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reports construction laborers suffered the highest number of fatalities in 2004.

Construction Accident Claims

Any significant construction site accident involves workers' compensation rights. However, a workers' compensation claim can also be supplemented by legal actions against those responsible for various activities on the jobsite--from equipment manufacturers to construction managers to general contractors, depending upon the individual circumstances of the accident. Because nearly all construction site accidents are preventable, a construction site accident lawsuit is important, particularly when a construction injury leaves a worker disabled or results in construction death.

If you have been involved in a construction site injury, please contact your doctor and an accident attorney as soon as possible to help determine the extent of your injuries and to determine who is liable for the injury. There are also statute of limitations laws that govern how long you have to file a claim, so do not delay in registering your complaint.